Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

AOC says Whoopi Goldberg has done enough to make amends for Holocaust comments

Goldberg has been suspended by ABC from the show ‘The View’

Sravasti Dasgupta
Thursday 03 February 2022 06:28 GMT
Comments
Holocaust ‘isn’t about race’: Whoopi Goldberg

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

New York representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has come to the defence of Whoopi Goldberg who got suspended from the ABC show “The View” for her comment that the Holocaust was “not about race”.

Speaking to TMZ, Ms Ocasio-Cortez said: “Whenever there is a moment like this, a learning moment like this, what is super important is the relationship between that person and the community they are making amends with.”

“Last I read Jonathan Greenblatt who is the head of the Anti-Defamation League which is a champion for fighting anti-Semitism across the country, he accepted her apology and I think we take the Jewish community’s lead on this and they seem to see that her apology was authentic and want to move on and heal.”

On Tuesday, ABC suspended Goldberg for two weeks from the show for “her wrong and hurtful comments”.

Goldberg has since issued an apology which has been accepted by Mr Greenblatt who was a guest on the show.

In a tweet he said that he deeply appreciates Goldberg for inviting him on the show to “have an important discussion on the importance of educating about the Holocaust. Whoopi has been a long-time ally of the Jewish community and ADL and her apology is very much welcome”.

Goldberg had said on the show: “Let’s be truthful about it because the Holocaust isn’t about race. No. It’s not about race!”

She tried to reiterate her point that that the Holocaust was instead about “man’s inhumanity to man” despite her co-hosts interjecting to remind her that Jews in Nazi Germany were considered “a different race”.

“But you’re missing the point! You’re missing the point,” Goldberg said.

“The minute you turn it into race, it goes down this alley. Let’s talk about it for what it is. It’s how people treat each other. That’s the problem.”

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in