Award-winning actress, comedian and TV host Whoopi Goldberg issued an official apology on Twitter Monday night after making insensitive statements surrounding the Holocaust on her daytime talk show The View earlier in the day.
She wrote:
"On today's show, I said the Holocaust 'is not about race, but about man's inhumanity to man.' I should have said it is about both."
"As Jonathan Greenblatt from the Anti-Defamation League shared, 'The Holocaust was about the Nazi's systematic annihilation of the Jewish people--who they deemed to be an inferior race.' I stand corrected."
"The Jewish people around the world have always had my support and that will never waiver. I'm sorry for the hurt I have caused."
"Written with my sincerest apologies, Whoopi Goldberg"
You can see Goldberg's written statement here:
In addition to her tweet, Goldberg also apologized on The View Tuesday.
You can see the video here:
On Monday, hosts of The View were discussing the recent banning of Art Spiegelman's popular graphic novel Maus, a moving and stark portrayal of the Holocaust written from the Jewish perspective when Goldberg made her comments.
The Pulitzer Prize winning novel was banned by the Tennessee school board, sparking mass public outrage by those who felt banning the novel was an attempt to erase the history of the atrocities committed against the people targeted by the Third Reich.
During the discussion, Goldberg said the Holocaust "wasn't about race."
She said:
“Let’s be truthful about it, because the Holocaust isn’t about race. It’s not about race...because it’s about man’s inhumanity to man."
Goldberg's co-hosts, Joy Behar and Ana Navarro, were quick to challenge her claim.
Behar responded to Goldberg's comment by reminding her the Nazis viewed the Jews as being a different race.
Navarro added in the Holocaust was about upholding White supremacy and the Nazis “didn’t see [Jews] as White."
Goldberg responded:
“But these are two White groups of people…you’re missing the point. 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."
After her comments on Monday's episode of The View, Goldberg faced backlash on social media.
On Tuesday's program, Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt was invited to speak as the first guest.
Some Twitter users appreciated Goldberg's apology.
Others were not as forgiving.
On Tuesday night in a statement released by ABC News public relations, it was announced Goldberg would be suspended for two weeks because of her on air comments.
The statement—signed by ABC News president Kim Godwin—said:
"Effective immediately, I am suspending Whoopi Goldberg for two weeks for her wrong and hurtful comments."
"While Whoopi has apologized, I’ve asked her to take time to reflect and learn about the impact of her comments."
"The entire ABC News organization stands in solidarity with our Jewish colleagues, friends, family and communities."
The announcement drew a variety of reactions.
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Goldberg has not yet commented on the suspension.
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