Petition To Fire ‘Racist,’ ‘Tone Deaf’ Whoopi Goldberg Continues To Grow

A petition isn’t letting Whoopi Goldberg off the hook after she made comments that were deemed as “racist” and “tone deaf.” While co-hosting The View this past January, Whoopi and her cohosts were discussing historical censorship when she said that the Holocaust was “not about race.”

Whoopi’s comment and the discussion that ensued led to widespread calls for her to be fired from The View. And now, there’s a Change.org petition circulating with nearly 40,000 signatures.

The conversation that led to the controversial discussion was initially about a school district banning the book Maus, which is about the Holocaust. Parents and the board claimed that the book was banned due to nudity and foul language. However, due to the current political climate and related media censorship, many are incredulous that the book ban wasn’t part of a widespread effort to stop teaching students about the Holocaust.

This is what led to the conversation, which is a contentious one roiled in heated emotions and political views. Whoopi tried to say that the extermination of 6 million Jews wasn’t about race, because from her perception as a black woman, race is usually determined by skin color.

Here is what was said:

Whoopi Goldberg: “I’m surprised that’s what made you uncomfortable, the fact that there was some nudity. I mean, it’s about the Holocaust, the killing of 6 million people, but that didn’t bother you? Well, this is white people doing it to white people. Y’all go fight amongst yourselves.”

The cohosts then continued discussing how what children are exposed to or hearing these days may be confusing.

Sara Haines: Look at what kids watch these days and the music they listen to. To say that showing them a work of art or history that happened is bad language or nudity? Turn off reality TV, turn off the radio, turn off everything they’re doing because kids are exposed to this stuff really early in inappropriate situations, not one where you’re learning or teaching.”

The conversation circled back to Whoopi.

Whoopi Goldberg: “If you’re going to do this, then let’s be truthful about it. Because the Holocaust isn’t about race. No, it’s not about race.” 

Joy Behar: “Then what was it about?”

Whoopi Goldberg: “It’s about man’s inhumanity to man. That’s what it’s about.” 

Ana Navarro: “Well, it’s about white supremacy. That’s what it’s about. It’s about going after Jews and gypsies.”

Whoopi Goldberg: “But these are two groups of white people. You’re missing the point. The minute you turn it into the race, it goes down this alley. Let’s talk about it for what it is. It’s how people treat each other. It’s a problem. It doesn’t matter if you’re black or white because black, white, Jews … everybody eats each other.

“So, if you’re uncomfortable hearing about Maus, should you be worried, should your child say, ‘Oh my God, I wonder if that’s me?’ No! That’s not what they’re going to say. They’re going to say, ‘I don’t want to be like that.’ Most kids, they don’t want to be cruel.” 

Whoopi’s comments were considered by many to be racist because they were considered to be blind to what the Nazi’s goal was, which was to exterminate the Jewish race. Specifically, they were considered by the Nazis to be an “inferior” race to others.

Chairman of the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, Kenneth L. Marcus, pointed out that Whoopi’s comments reflected a common misconception about the Holocaust.

“In her error, she was reflecting a misunderstanding of Jewish identity that is both widespread and dangerous that is sometimes described as erasive antisemitism. It is the notion that Jews should be viewed only as being white, privileged oppressors. It denies Jewish identity and involves a whitewashing of Jewish history.”

Regardless, Whoopi was temporarily suspended from The View and apologized for her insensitive comments.

Whoopi subsequently tweeted:

“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.”

But she later backtracked on her apology while on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

“I feel, being black, when we talk about race it’s a very different thing to me,” she said. “So I said I thought the Holocaust wasn’t about race. And it made people very angry. I’m getting a lot of mail from folks and a lot of anger. But I thought it was a salient discussion because as a black person I think of race as being something that I can see.

“When you talk about being a racist, you can’t call this racism. This was evil. This wasn’t based on skin. You couldn’t tell who was Jewish. You had to delve deeply and figure it out. My point is: they had to do the work.

“If the Klan is coming down the street and I’m standing with a Jewish friend: I’m going to run. But if my friend decides not to run, they’ll get passed by most times. Because you can’t tell who is Jewish. You don’t know.”

The Change.org petition says that Whoopi’s “most recent comment attacking victims of the holocaust and the entire Jewish community are disgusting” and that “apologies are not enough when it comes to things like this.”

It is demanding that The View fire Whoopi for “her repulsive verbiage and actions.”