The incident began on the January 31, 2022, episode of The View when co-hosts discussed the decision by a school board in Tennessee to ban the graphic novel Maus—a renowned work about the Jewish experience during the Holocaust. During the discussion, Whoopi Goldberg unexpectedly made a shocking remark: “The Holocaust isn’t about race. It’s about man’s inhumanity to man.”

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This comment immediately sparked a massive wave of backlash. The Holocaust, the historical event in which Nazi Germany killed around 6 million Jews and millions of others based on racial theories, has long been recognized as one of the most horrific genocides in human history. Denying the racial aspect of the Holocaust was not only seen as inaccurate but also deeply offensive to Holocaust victims and the global Jewish community.

Public and Organizational Outrage

Whoopi Goldberg dabs tears from eyes at thought of Trump being unable to  pay his debts : r/AntiTrumpAlliance

Just hours after Whoopi’s remark, social media exploded with criticism. The Auschwitz Museum, which preserves the memory of the Nazis’ largest concentration and extermination camp, directly responded on Twitter. They posted a chart showing the Nazi regime’s racial classification, illustrating how the Nazis categorized Jews based on “pure race”—those without German ancestry were considered “impure.” The museum also bluntly recommended that Whoopi take their 7-chapter online course on Holocaust history to better understand the event.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center, a leading organization in the fight against racism, also voiced their criticism. Rabbi Abraham Cooper, the Center’s associate director, expressed his disappointment: “I’m baffled by Whoopi’s statement. She was once a strong voice for social justice, but this remark deeply hurt the Jewish community and Holocaust survivors.”

ABC Acts Swiftly: Suspension and “Reflection” Required

Under intense public pressure, Whoopi Goldberg issued an apology in the next episode of The View on February 1, 2022. She admitted that she had “misspoken” and expressed regret: “I did not mean to diminish the horror of the Holocaust. I deeply regret what I said.”

However, this apology wasn’t enough to quell the public fury. By February 2, ABC News President Kim Godwin made an official announcement: “Effective immediately, I am suspending Whoopi Goldberg for two weeks due to her wrong and hurtful comments. While Whoopi has apologized, I ask that she take this time to reflect and understand the impact of her words. ABC News stands with the Jewish community and all those affected by the Holocaust.”

ABC’s swift decision to suspend Goldberg demonstrated the seriousness of the incident, and it served as a warning that even a star as big as Whoopi could not escape the consequences of thoughtless remarks.

Public Divide: Condemnation or Sympathy?

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The incident sparked a heated public debate. Some people believed Whoopi’s comment reflected the controversial view that only people of color can be victims of racism—a perspective that many disagreed with, especially in the context of the Holocaust. Jill Savitt, President and CEO of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, commented: “No one can know for sure what Whoopi intended, but perhaps she meant to say the Holocaust was about hatred. However, her phrasing caused deep harm.”

On the other side, some viewers sympathized with Whoopi, arguing that she did not mean any harm and had apologized quickly. Still, the majority opinion was that a public figure like Whoopi needs to be more careful with her statements, especially when discussing a sensitive historical event like the Holocaust.

Impact on Career and the Valuable Lesson

The suspension was not only a heavy blow to Whoopi Goldberg’s reputation but also raised questions about her future on The View. As one of the longest-serving co-hosts, Whoopi had long been admired for her candidness and progressive views. However, this scandal has caused many to question whether she can continue to hold her position amid mounting public pressure.

Moreover, the incident highlighted the importance of Holocaust education. Many organizations seized the opportunity to urge the public to learn more about this history in order to avoid similar misunderstandings in the future.

Conclusion: The Storm is Far from Over

After her two-week suspension, Whoopi Goldberg returned to The View with a humbler attitude, committed to learning and vowing not to repeat her mistake. However, this incident left a significant scar on her career and served as a reminder that even the biggest stars are not immune to the consequences of thoughtless comments. Will Whoopi be able to regain the trust of the public, or is this just the beginning of even more turmoil? Only time will tell.