ABC Suspends Whoopi Goldberg Over Controversial Holocaust Remarks

NEW YORK — ABC News has suspended Whoopi Goldberg from The View for two weeks following backlash over her controversial remarks about race and the Holocaust.

ABC News President Kim Godwin called Goldberg’s comments “wrong and hurtful” in a statement announcing the decision.

“While Whoopi has apologized, I have asked her to take time to reflect and learn about the impact of her words.

The entire ABC News organization stands in solidarity with our Jewish colleagues, friends, family, and communities,” Godwin stated.

Goldberg’s Controversial Statement Sparks Outrage

The controversy erupted after Goldberg claimed during Monday’s episode of The View that the Holocaust was “not about race,” but rather “man’s inhumanity to man.”

Her remarks came during a discussion about a Tennessee school board’s decision to ban Maus, the Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel about Nazi concentration camps.

The comments immediately drew widespread condemnation from Jewish leaders and organizations, who pointed out that Nazi ideology was explicitly based on racial hatred against Jews.

Goldberg issued an apology later that day and again at the start of Tuesday’s episode, acknowledging that her words had upset many people.

“My words upset so many people, which was never my intention,” she said.

“I understand why now, and for that, I am deeply, deeply grateful because the information I received was really helpful in broadening my understanding.”

Jewish Leaders Condemn Goldberg’s Remarks

Despite her apology, the fallout continued. Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, appeared on Tuesday’s show to explain why Goldberg’s remarks were so harmful.

“Jewish people at the moment are feeling besieged,” Greenblatt said, emphasizing the rise in antisemitic attacks worldwide.

Rabbi Abraham Cooper, associate dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, noted that Goldberg had been a vocal advocate on social issues in the past but was stunned by her misunderstanding of the Holocaust.

“Nazi Germany’s targeting of Jews was entirely about race. That is the undeniable, historic fact,” Cooper said.

Kenneth L. Marcus, chairman of the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, called Goldberg’s remarks an example of “erasive antisemitism” – a growing trend of denying the racial persecution of Jews.

“In this misguided view, Jews are seen only as privileged oppressors, rather than as a historically persecuted group,” Marcus said.

“This distorts history and downplays the real dangers of antisemitism.”

Calls for Goldberg’s Firing Intensify

Goldberg’s suspension has ignited fierce debate online, with some calling for her to be fired, while others argue that her apology should be enough.

The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum responded to Goldberg’s initial comments on Twitter, stating:

“Racism was central to Nazi ideology.

Jews were not defined by religion but by race.

Nazi racist beliefs fueled genocide and mass murder.”

The museum also linked to an educational resource explaining that the Nazis classified Jews as an inferior race in their racial hierarchy, which justified the mass extermination of six million Jews.

While some argue that Goldberg should be permanently removed from The View, others, like Jill Savitt, CEO of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, believe that complex conversations like these require understanding rather than immediate cancelation.

“We need to allow room for mistakes and learning,” Savitt said.

“Difficult histories require open discussions, not just placing blame.”

Meanwhile, Greenblatt suggested that The View, which is currently searching for a new co-host, should consider hiring a Jewish woman to bring more awareness to issues of antisemitism.

For now, Goldberg’s future at ABC remains uncertain, but her remarks have reignited important conversations about race, history, and the complexities of identity in modern America.