Whoopi Goldberg, the television host, recently stirred a controversy on an episode of ABC’s “The View” when she spoke about her personal financial struggles in the context of wider economic concerns.
During the November 12, 2024 episode of the daytime talk show, Goldberg addressed her financial issues, stating, “I appreciate that people are having a hard time—me, too. I work for a living,” she said.
The winner of Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards (EGOT), elaborated on her views, saying, “If I had all the money in the world, I would not be here, okay? So, I’m a working person, you know?”
In the course of the discussion, Goldberg mentioned family responsibilities, stating, “My kid has to feed her family. I know it’s hard out there.”
These comments quickly attracted attention, especially considering Goldberg’s reported annual salary of $8 million for “The View” and her estimated $60 million net worth.
Audiences expressed their reactions on social media, labeling her as out of touch with reality. Online critics highlighted her significant net worth, with one person on X suggesting that her declarations of being “working class” sharply contrasted with her financial standing.
One commenter commented that she appeared to be among the most out-of-touch celebrities and questioned why anyone would take her seriously. Similar sentiments were shared by others, with one comment suggesting that highly compensated actors often lack understanding of real-life struggles and another questioning when she last visited a grocery store.
Earlier in November, Goldberg faced backlash for referring to grocery store owners as “pigs” during a discussion on inflation. She stated on the Thursday show, “The folks that own the groceries are pigs.” The National Grocers Association responded by saying that such remarks could put retail workers at risk, highlighting that grocery stores operate on narrow profit margins.
The controversy expanded beyond her financial comments on November 13, 2024, when Goldberg was involved in a disagreement with Holtermann’s Bakery in Staten Island, New York City. She alleged on air that the bakery declined her order due to her political beliefs. The bakery explained that they were dealing with boiler issues that prevented them from fulfilling her order and had relayed this to Goldberg. Local politicians have demanded an apology for the accusation, which the bakery strongly denies.
Goldberg, a part of “The View” since 2007, has yet to publicly respond to the criticism regarding her financial remarks or the allegations against the bakery.