During Monday’s episode of the daytime talk show, Goldberg, 66, argued that the “Holocaust isn’t about race” when she and her co-hosts were discussing the news that a Tennessee school board chose to pullMaus, a Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel aboutthe Holocaust, from its lesson plans.
Goldbergapologizedfor the comment in a social media statement on Monday evening and onThe ViewTuesday morning. Later that same day, ABCannounced her two-week suspension.
For more on Whoopi Goldberg’s suspension fromThe View,listen below toour daily podcast on PEOPLE Every Day.
Ana Navarro, who is a regular guest co-host onThe View,did not appear on Wednesday’s episode buttoldCNNthe day prior that Goldberg’s colleagues “know what’s in her heart” and that she’s “not an anti-Semite.”
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“No @WhoopiGoldberg, the #Holocaust was about the Nazi’s systematic annihilation of the Jewish people – who they deemed to be an inferior race,” Jonathan Greenblatt, the CEO of the ADL,wrote on Twitter. “They dehumanized them and used this racist propaganda to justify slaughtering 6 million Jews. Holocaust distortion is dangerous.”
In her apology onThe ViewTuesday, Goldberg said she “misspoke” the day prior.
“While discussing how a Tennessee school board unanimously voted to remove a graphic novel about the Holocaust, I said that the Holocaust wasn’t about race and it was instead about man’s inhumanity to man,” theactress said. “But it was indeed about race because Hitler and the Nazis considered Jews to be an inferior race.”
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According toThe Jewish Chronicle, Goldberg spoke at a charity event in 2016 about being Jewish.
“I just know I am Jewish,” she said at the time. “I practice nothing. I don’t go to temple, but I do remember the holidays. Religion is a lot of work, it’s exhausting. So I keep it simple, I have a pretty good relationship with God. We talk.'”
Though theSister Actstar — born Caryn Johnson — once toldThe New York Timesthe first part of her stage name comes from a “whoopee cushion,” she said the name “Goldberg” derives from her family heritage.
“My mother did not name me Whoopi, but Goldberg is my name,” she said, perThe Jewish Chronicle.“It’s part of my family, part of my heritage. Just like being black.”
Goldberg added that she once visited Israel “many moons ago” and planted a tree while there. “I feel a real connection there, but also with Palestine as well. We are one people, we really are,” she said.
Greenblatt addressed the suspension during an appearance onDon Lemon TonightTuesday and said he hoped Goldberg uses the time “for a process of introspection and learning,” but added that he understands public figures “can say clumsy things about race or faith or gender.”
“I don’t believe in cancel culture. I like the phrase that my friendNick Cannonuses: We need counsel culture. We shouldn’t cancel Whoopi because she made a mistake,” Greenblatt continued, later noting that he has accepted her apology.
source: people.com
