Whoopi Walks Off the View: A Look at the Controversy

Whoopi Goldberg stormed off the set of "The View" on Tuesday after clashing with her co-hosts over her comments about the Holocaust.

Goldberg sparked outrage last week when she stated on the show that "the Holocaust isn't about race" and that it was "about man's inhumanity to man." Her remarks drew widespread condemnation, with many accusing her of minimizing the horrors of the Holocaust and equating it to other tragedies.

On Tuesday's show, Goldberg initially apologized for her comments, but she later grew frustrated with her co-hosts' attempts to challenge her views.

• "I thought we were having a discussion," said Goldberg.

"I feel like I'm being attacked."

Co-host Joy Behar fired back, "You're being attacked because you said something that was wrong!"

Goldberg then stood up and stalked off the set, leaving her co-hosts and the studio audience stunned.

"I'm done," she said. "I'm not doing this anymore."

Goldberg's Controversial Comments

Goldberg's comments about the Holocaust stemmed from a discussion about a Tennessee school board's decision to ban the graphic novel "Maus."

The novel, which tells the story of a Holocaust survivor, has been praised for its historical accuracy and its ability to teach children about the horrors of the Holocaust. However, some parents have objected to the novel's use of profanity and nudity.

During the discussion, Goldberg argued that "the Holocaust isn't about race" because both Jews and non-Jews were killed during the Holocaust.

She also stated that the Holocaust was "about man's inhumanity to man" and that it was "not about race."

Criticism of Goldberg's Comments

Goldberg's comments sparked immediate outrage from historians, educators, and Jewish organizations. Many accused her of minimizing the importance of race in the Holocaust and of equating it to other tragedies.

• "The Holocaust was a genocide," said Rabbi Abraham Cooper of the Simon Wiesenthal Center.

"It was about the annihilation of a people. To say it's not about race is simply not true."

• "Goldberg's comments are dangerous," said historian Deborah Lipstadt.

"They play into the hands of Holocaust deniers and those who seek to downplay the significance of the Holocaust."

Goldberg's Apology

On Tuesday's show, Goldberg initially apologized for her comments, saying that she "misspoke."

• "I should have said that the Holocaust was about the Nazis' systematic annihilation of the Jewish people," she said.

"I'm very sorry for the pain that I caused."

However, Goldberg later grew frustrated with her co-hosts' attempts to challenge her views.

• "I feel like I'm being attacked," she said.

"I'm done. I'm not doing this anymore."

Impact of Goldberg's Comments

Goldberg's comments have had a significant impact on the public discourse about the Holocaust. They have sparked a renewed debate about the importance of race in the Holocaust and the dangers of Holocaust denial.

The comments have also raised questions about the role of celebrities in shaping public opinion. Some have argued that celebrities have a responsibility to use their platform to promote accurate information about the Holocaust. Others have argued that celebrities should be free to express their own opinions, even if those opinions are controversial.

Conclusion

The controversy over Whoopi Goldberg's comments about the Holocaust is a complex and multifaceted issue. There is no easy answer to the question of whether or not her comments were anti-Semitic. However, her comments have undoubtedly sparked a much-needed debate about the importance of race in the Holocaust and the dangers of Holocaust denial.