The president of ABC News, Kim Godwin, confirmed that Whoopi Goldberg has been suspended from the US talk show, The View. This comes after Goldberg’s comments about Jews and the Holocaust.
Whoopi Goldberg triggers reactions with comments
On Monday’s episode of The View, Goldberg appeared as co-host while the panel was discussing a US school board’s decision to ban Maus, a Pulitzer prize-winning graphic novel about the experiences of a Holocaust survivor.
From there the group started discussing issues around the Holocaust in today’s world. And that was when Goldberg commented that the Holocaust is “not about race” because it involved “white people doing it to white people”.
She had said: “Let’s be truthful – the Holocaust isn’t about race. It’s about man’s inhumanity to man – that’s what it’s about.”
Sparks fly as The View panel confronts Whoopi after she says “the Holocaust isn’t about race. No. It’s not about race.”
— Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) January 31, 2022
“Well, the considered Jews a different race,” Joy Behar says.
“But it’s about white supremacy. It’s about going after Jews and Gypsies,” Ana Navarro adds. pic.twitter.com/GZwZSi2qXi
ABC suspends Goldberg even after apology
Since then, Goldberg has apologised numerous times but Godwin still felt that a suspension was necessary.
“Effective immediately, I am suspending Whoopi Goldberg for two weeks for her wrong and hurtful comments.
“While Whoopi has apologised, I’ve asked her to take time to reflect and learn about the impact of her comments.
“The entire ABC News organisation stands in solidarity with our Jewish colleagues, friends, family and communities.”
Goldberg’s words set off a reaction from groups such as the Anti-Defamation League and Stopantisemitism.org. They claimed that her words were “dangerous” and “minimising” the trauma and suffering that the people of the Holocaust had to endure.
Goldberg’s apology was accepted by most, however, everybody seems to agree that the suspension is needed to express the impact words can have.
— Whoopi Goldberg (@WhoopiGoldberg) February 1, 2022