Fox News anchor Harris Faulkner launched a scathing attack on Whoopi Goldberg during live television broadcasts this week, calling her comparison between Black Americans and people living under Iran’s regime offensive and racist.
The controversy erupted following Goldberg’s comments on Wednesday’s episode of “The View,” where she argued that life for Black Americans was equivalent to conditions faced by women and LGBTQ individuals in Iran. During a heated exchange with co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin, who highlighted Iran’s human rights violations, including executions of gay people and imprisonment of women for uncovered hair, Goldberg responded by referencing America’s history of lynching and violence against Black people.
When Griffin stated that the United States in 2025 was not as bad as Iran in 2025, Goldberg immediately interjected with “Not if you’re black.” She further defended her position by noting that America has historically tied gay people to cars and hanged Black people, insisting the situations were comparable.
Faulkner, who co-anchors the midday panel show “Outnumbered,” delivered her most pointed criticism on Thursday, declaring that Goldberg’s remarks went beyond acceptable discourse. The Fox News anchor described Goldberg’s comparison as asinine and criticized her for making such statements during Juneteenth week, emphasizing that America in 2025 is not the same as during Jim Crow or slavery eras.
During Thursday’s broadcast of “The Faulkner Focus,” the anchor expressed frustration with Goldberg’s assessment, noting that successful Black individuals like herself and contributor Gianno Caldwell demonstrate the opportunities available in America. Faulkner emphasized that making such comparisons without acknowledging societal progress was despicable, particularly given the timing around June 19th celebrations.
The criticism intensified during Faulkner’s appearance on “Outnumbered,” where she stated that Goldberg was “ignorant of the facts” and suggested she preferred the actress in her role on “Star Trek: The Next Generation.” Faulkner concluded her assessment by declaring: “That’s as racist as anything” she had ever heard.
The backlash extended beyond Fox News, with Iranian dissidents and social media users condemning Goldberg’s remarks as offensive and inaccurate. Dr. Sheila Nazarian, a plastic surgeon whose family fled Iran in 1985 when she was six years old, told Fox News that Goldberg’s comparison was deeply misguided and dismissed the brutal realities faced by millions of Iranians.
Bill Maher joined the criticism during Friday’s episode of “Real Time,” suggesting that Democrats needed to address “The View” following Goldberg’s controversial statements. Texas Representative Wesley Hunt, appearing as a guest on Maher’s show, rejected Goldberg’s comparison entirely, citing his own success as a Black Republican congressman elected in a white-majority district.
Hunt emphasized generational progress within his own family, noting that his father grew up under Jim Crow laws and is now the father of a United States congressman. The representative stated he never wanted to hear Goldberg’s arguments about conditions for Black Americans being worse than those in Iran.
Fox News host Kayleigh McEnany also criticized Goldberg during Thursday’s “Outnumbered” broadcast, detailing specific cases of Iranian regime brutality, including the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini. McEnany noted that Amini died in custody after being arrested by Iran’s morality police for improperly wearing her hijab, sparking mass protests and international condemnation.
Goldberg was noticeably absent from “The View” this week, with co-host Joy Behar explaining on Monday that Goldberg was in Italy accepting an award for her book “Bits and Pieces.” According to reports, Goldberg will remain away from the show through its annual summer break and is expected to return on July 7th.
The incident marks another controversial moment for Goldberg, who was previously suspended from “The View” in 2022 for claiming the Holocaust was “not about race.” The latest controversy has reignited debates about media responsibility and political discourse, with multiple commentators questioning whether ABC should take disciplinary action against the Oscar-winning actress.
