TV host Whoopi Goldberg sparked controversy during a recent episode of ABC’s “The View” when she addressed personal financial challenges amid broader economic discussions.
On November 12, 2024, Goldberg discussed financial hardships during the daytime talk show. “I appreciate that people are having a hard time—me, too. I work for a living,” she said.
The EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony) winner expanded on her position, stating, “If I had all the money in the world, I would not be here, okay? So, I’m a working person, you know?”
Goldberg referenced family obligations during the discussion, saying, “My kid has to feed her family. I know it’s hard out there.”
Her statements drew immediate attention from viewers and media outlets, particularly given her reported $8 million annual salary from “The View” and estimated $60 million net worth.
Viewers took to social media, describing her as disconnected from reality. Online critics pointed out her considerable net worth, with one person on X suggesting her claims of being “working class” contrasted sharply with her financial status.
Another commenter remarked that she seemed to be one of the most out-of-touch celebrities and questioned why anyone would watch her seriously. Others echoed these sentiments, with one stating that highly paid actors are often removed from real-life struggles and another questioning the last time she visited a grocery store.
Earlier in November, Goldberg faced criticism for calling grocery store owners “pigs” during a discussion about inflation. “The folks that own the groceries are pigs,” she stated on the Thursday show. The National Grocers Association responded that such comments could endanger retail workers, noting that grocery stores operate on thin profit margins.
The controversy has extended beyond her financial comments. On November 13, 2024, Goldberg became embroiled in a dispute with Holtermann’s Bakery in Staten Island, New York, after suggesting on air that the establishment had refused to take her order due to her political views. The bakery explained that they were experiencing boiler problems, precluding them from filling her order, and had communicated this to Goldberg when she contacted them. Local politicians have called for her to apologize for the allegation, which the bakery vehemently denies.
The co-host, who joined “The View” in 2007, has not publicly addressed the backlash to her financial comments or allegations against the bakery.