‘The View’ Audience Member Calls Whoopi ‘Old Broad’ During Live TV
During a recent episode of ABC's The View, host Whoopi Goldberg was called an “old broad” by an audience member, sparking a lighthearted exchange. The incident occurred as Goldberg, 67, and her cohosts were settling into the show.
“We’re happy to see ya’ll. Cool, well, go on and have a seat,” Goldberg said, before pausing to address the heckler.
“Did you just call me an old broad? Yeah?” Goldberg said, looking toward the audience. The camera showed a woman wearing a large fur hat, who appeared to be the one who made the comment.
“She said, ‘You old broad,’ and I was like, hey, it’s Wednesday, and I am an old broad, and happy about it,” Goldberg said with a chuckle. Cohost Sunny Hostin chimed in, joking that being an “old broad” was better than “the alternative.”
Goldberg agreed, saying, “The alternative is not attractive to any of us. We all want to be old broads and old dudes, you know?”
Throughout the episode, the show’s cameras occasionally returned to the audience member who had made the comment, emphasizing the playful nature of the exchange.
The incident comes as Goldberg continues to face backlash for controversial statements she made about the Holocaust. Earlier this year, Goldberg was suspended from The View after claiming the Holocaust was “not about race.” Although she apologized at the time, she reignited criticism during a recent interview with the Sunday Times while promoting her movie Till.
In the interview, Goldberg suggested that the Nazis targeted Jews for reasons other than race, stating, “Remember who they were killing first. They were not killing racial; they were killing physical. They were killing people they considered to be mentally defective. And then they made this decision.”
Journalist Janice Turner countered, explaining that Nazis defined Jews as a race under their own laws. Goldberg responded, “Yes, but that’s the killer, isn’t it? The oppressor is telling you what you are. Why are you believing them? They’re Nazis. Why believe what they’re saying?”
Goldberg’s remarks prompted widespread condemnation from Jewish organizations and public figures, with many accusing her of distorting history.
A representative for Goldberg later issued a statement clarifying her position. “It was never my intention to appear as if I was doubling down on hurtful comments... I believe that the Holocaust was about race, and I am still as sorry now as I was then that I upset, hurt, and angered people,” the statement read. Goldberg added that she stands firmly against antisemitism and supports the Jewish community.
Despite the apology, criticism persisted. Aviva Klompas, co-founder of Boundless Israel, tweeted, “Whoopi Goldberg — 1 million Jews were murdered in Auschwitz alone. Hitler targeted Jews for annihilation, arguing that we are a distinct and inferior race. Stop distorting history.”
Former New York Assemblyman Dov Hikind also weighed in, calling Goldberg’s comments “ignorant” and “uneducated.” In a video response, he criticized ABC for continuing to provide Goldberg with a platform.
“Nobody wants an apology anymore because it’s meaningless. Because it’s a lie. It’s dishonest,” Hikind said.