Whoopi Goldberg Opens ‘The View’ With Emotional Apology After Holocaust Remarks Spark Outrage

Whoopi Goldberg began today’s episode of “The View” on a somber note, addressing the controversy that erupted after her recent comments about the Holocaust and race. Goldberg, visibly moved, continued to apologize to viewers and the Jewish community, clarifying her intentions and expressing deep regret for her statements.

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“My words upset so many people, which was never my intention,” Goldberg said at the top of the show. “I regret my comments, as I said, and I stand corrected. I also stand with the Jewish people, as they know and y’all know.”

The uproar began on Monday when Goldberg discussed a Tennessee school district’s decision to ban “Maus,” the Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel about the Holocaust. During the discussion, Goldberg stated, “The Holocaust isn’t about race,” a comment that stunned both her co-hosts and viewers. She elaborated, “It’s about man’s inhumanity to man,” and characterized the genocide of six million Jews as “people doing it to white people.”

The backlash was immediate. Social media erupted with criticism, and headlines across the country condemned Goldberg’s remarks, noting that the Holocaust was explicitly about the Nazi regime’s racist ideology targeting Jews as an inferior race.

Later that day, Goldberg appeared on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” where she attempted to clarify her perspective, saying, “Most of the Nazis were white people and most of the people they were attacking were white people, so to me, I’m thinking, how can you say it’s about race if you are fighting each other?” Despite her explanation, the controversy continued to grow.

Overnight, Goldberg took to Twitter to issue a formal apology:

“I said the Holocaust is not about race. I stand corrected. I’m sorry for the hurt I have caused. Yesterday on our show, I misspoke.”

The timing of Goldberg’s remarks made the situation even more sensitive, coming just days after International Holocaust Remembrance Day, and amid a rise in anti-Semitic incidents nationwide. In a recent incident in Lakewood, New Jersey, a snow plow driver was caught on camera deliberately sloshing snow onto two Orthodox Jewish men walking to synagogue, an act that is now under police investigation.

Goldberg’s apology has been met with a mix of reactions—some viewers appreciate her willingness to admit her mistake and learn, while others continue to express disappointment and call for greater awareness about the realities of racism and anti-Semitism.

As the conversation around her comments continues, Goldberg has reiterated her commitment to supporting the Jewish community and using her platform for education and understanding.