Whoopi Goldberg found herself in an unexpected exchange when she decided to engage in a conversation with James Woods on “The View.” The topic of discussion was Riley Gaines, a subject of criticism from the show’s panel. Whoopi, taking a stance in support of Gaines, voiced her concerns, saying, “I don’t understand how you can stick up for this woman who clearly doesn’t have a life outside of further marginalizing a minuscule percentage of the population. She gave up on pursuing an actual career to pursue anti-trans activism full time.”
Woods, not one to shy away from a heated debate, quickly offered a counterpoint with a touch of humor. He quipped, “Maybe you just don’t like her because your real name is Karen. And who rings out your mop when you’re done cleaning for the day?” The exchange left Whoopi somewhat speechless, and she chose to end the discussion, citing concerns about “racist dog whistles and anti-Semitism,” although it remained unclear how these elements were relevant to the conversation.
Interestingly, the segment was conspicuously absent from the subsequent broadcast, as confirmed by an insider at ABC, Tara Newhole, who stated, “They don’t allow content that makes Whoopi uncomfortable to make it to the broadcast, and that’s typically about half the show.”
As the incident unfolded, Whoopi’s PR firm, Williams, Vanden, and Boom, declined to provide any comments and redirected inquiries to her private counsel, Joe Barron ESQ. Barron firmly instructed, “You’ve been ordered to cease and desist,” effectively putting a lid on the matter.
In contrast, James Woods expressed pride in the episode, suggesting that he intends to continue expressing his candid and unfiltered opinions in public. His sign-off, “God Bless America,” underscores the often passionate and controversial nature of public discourse in the United States.