Television host Whoopi Goldberg recently stirred up controversy on a broadcast of ABC’s “The View” by discussing her personal financial struggles in the context of broader economic issues.
During the daytime talk show on November 12, 2024, Goldberg addressed her financial difficulties. “I appreciate that people are having a hard time—me, too. I work for a living,” she stated.
The host, who has won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony (EGOT), further elaborated on her statement, saying, “If I had all the money in the world, I would not be here, okay? So, I’m a working person, you know?”
Goldberg mentioned family responsibilities in the talk, noting, “My kid has to feed her family. I know it’s hard out there.”
Her comments quickly drew attention, notably in light of her reported annual salary of $8 million from “The View” and an estimated $60 million net worth.
Many viewers voiced their criticism on social media, labeling Goldberg as out of touch with reality. Online commentators underlined her substantial net worth, with one person on X pointing out the disparity between her claim of being “working class” and her financial standing.
Another online user commented that she appears to be one of the most out-of-touch celebrities and questioned her credibility. Similar sentiments were echoed by others, with one person stating that highly compensated actors often lack understanding of real-life hardships while another questioned when she last went to a grocery store.
Earlier in the month, Goldberg drew criticism for labeling grocery store owners as “pigs” in a conversation about inflation. “The folks that own the groceries are pigs,” she remarked on the Thursday show. The National Grocers Association responded by stating that comments like these could put retail workers at risk, emphasizing that grocery stores operate on slim profit margins.
The controversy did not stop at her financial remarks. On November 13, 2024, Goldberg became involved in a disagreement with Holtermann’s Bakery in Staten Island, New York City, after suggesting on air that the bakery had declined her order based on her political beliefs. The bakery clarified that they were dealing with boiler issues that prevented them from fulfilling her order, and had communicated this to Goldberg. Local politicians have since urged her to apologize for the accusation, which the bakery strongly refutes.
Goldberg, a co-host on “The View” since 2007, has yet to publicly respond to the backlash regarding her financial comments or the dispute with the bakery.
