AOC defends Whoopi Goldberg, says suspension over Holocaust comment 'unnecessary'
American politician and activist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) told ABC’s suspension of host Whoopi Goldberg over her offensive comments about the Holocaust wasn’t necessary, arguing that Goldberg has already been forgiven by a key Jewish organization head, Jonathan Greenblatt.
'The View' host Whoopi Goldberg went off-air for two weeks on Tuesday, February 1 night, after her "wrong and hurtful comments". Ocasio-Cortez cleared the air around The View’s host apology, saying that the head of the Anti-Defamation League, Jonathan Greenblatt, had “accepted her apology.”
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The New York congresswoman said: “I think whenever there’s a learning moment like this, what’s super important is the relationship between that person and the community they’re making amends with.”
ADL director Jonathan Greenblatt said he has accepted Whoopi’s apology for saying that the Holocaust “wasn’t about race.” He tweeted, “Thank you @brikeilarcnn for having me on @NewDay to discuss this teachable moment. We have to understand the serious threat of #antisemitism, but we also have to understand that we’re all capable of mistakes. And if you apologize sincerely, there’s an opportunity for repentance.”
Thank you @brikeilarcnn for having me on @NewDay to discuss this teachable moment. We have to understand the serious threat of #antisemitism, but we also have to understand that we’re all capable of mistakes. And if you apologize sincerely, there’s an opportunity for repentance. pic.twitter.com/q1JIAPehWb
— Jonathan Greenblatt (@JGreenblattADL) February 2, 2022
Greenblatt also wrote about why he forgave Whoopi in an article for USA Today titled: "Why I forgave Whoopi Goldberg on national TV a day after her remarks on the Holocaust". The article stated that though Whoopi's Holocaust comment caused him "tremendous confusion and hurt," her tweet apology acknowledging she was wrong "was immediate and unconditional." He added: "Whoopi’s on-air apology to me the following morning on 'The View' was not forced, but equally heartfelt and sincere."
Greenblatt tweeted about Whoopi's apology too, saying: "As I write in @USATODAY @WhoopiGoldberg recognized her comments on @TheView had caused hurt, acknowledged she was wrong, and showed true remorse and introspection. May this be a teachable moment for viewers & the entire country.”
As I write in @USATODAY: @WhoopiGoldberg recognized her comments on @TheView had caused hurt, acknowledged she was wrong and showed true remorse and introspection. May this be a teachable moment for viewers & the entire country.https://t.co/Gjq5TRS5An
— Jonathan Greenblatt (@JGreenblattADL) February 3, 2022
'The View' host Whoopi Goldberg, 66, is an Oscar-winning actress, who has been hosting shows since 2007, she made the controversial comments on the show while discussing a Tennessee school board's prohibiting the graphic novel about the on-ground Holocaust that showed nudity, blasphemy, and suicide.
After her show, she invited Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt to discuss her offensive remarks where she apologized for her hurtful comments that had caused offense to the Jewish community. Since then she has issued multiple apologies and told her co-workers she is going to quit the show.
