On Monday’s live broadcast of The View, Whoopi Goldberg launched into what was supposed to be a routine commentary on political polarization in 2025 America. But what came out left the studio in stunned silence — and ignited a firestorm that ABC News leadership could no longer ignore.
“Let’s stop pretending certain kinds of extremism are more dangerous than others. White supremacy is a problem — but so is racial tribalism. We can’t just call out hate when it’s convenient.”
The comment, delivered with Whoopi’s signature certainty, sparked immediate backlash online. Critics called it a false equivalence. Advocates accused her of minimizing white nationalist threats in an election year already boiling with racial tension. Even longtime viewers of The View said the moment “crossed a line.”
By Tuesday night, ABC News President Kim Godwin had made her move.
Whoopi Goldberg has been suspended, without pay, for two weeks.
The announcement came not on air, but in a carefully worded internal memo obtained by multiple outlets — including this one.
“Effective immediately, Whoopi Goldberg will be suspended from The View for a period of two weeks following statements that were not in alignment with our editorial standards, nor our commitment to inclusive, fact-based dialogue,” the memo read.
For staffers at ABC, the suspension wasn’t just about this one moment. It felt like the culmination of years of tension simmering just below the surface.
A Long-Standing Rift Inside ‘The View’
According to multiple ABC insiders, frustrations over Whoopi’s and co-host Joy Behar’s unchecked power have been quietly mounting since the passing of The View’s founding force, Barbara Walters, in late 2022.
“Barbara kept everyone in line,” one producer shared under condition of anonymity. “After she left us, the power dynamic shifted. Whoopi and Joy ran the table. Standards began to blur.”
Kim Godwin, appointed president of ABC News in 2021, had reportedly been under increasing pressure from Disney executives to address what one insider called “a culture of immunity” on the daytime flagship.
“They say what they want, when they want. The rules apply to everyone else,” said one longtime staffer. “But today’s action shows that era is over.”
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ABC News President Kim Godwin was brought in in April
Backlash, Support — and a Divided Public
Public response has been swift — and deeply divided.
Hashtags like #StandWithWhoopi trended side-by-side with #FireWhoopi as the news broke late Tuesday night.
Her critics argue this isn’t the first time Whoopi has made problematic comparisons. Supporters, meanwhile, say her remarks were misinterpreted, and accuse ABC of bowing to political pressure in an increasingly censorious media environment.
Adding fuel to the fire, sources tell us that Joy Behar is “furious” behind the scenes, having privately expressed that Whoopi is being “scapegoated” for what should have been “a nuanced discussion.”
Yet others on staff quietly applauded the suspension, calling it a long-overdue correction.
“This isn’t about silencing Whoopi,” said one mid-level producer. “It’s about restoring accountability — and rebuilding a show that people can trust again.”
