Whoopi Goldberg’s role at ABC’s “The View” seems increasingly unstable, with growing talk that show producers may be engineering her departure from the daytime program she has hosted for approximately two decades.
The 70-year-old host has encountered rising backlash due to multiple controversial on-air incidents, such as provocative comparisons between the United States and Iran, obvious difficulty reading from the teleprompter that observers have linked to her documented dyslexia, and an intense April 22 discussion regarding gerrymandering, where she called for both political parties to stop redistricting activities following Virginia voters’ approval of a measure to redraw congressional districts.
In November 2025, Goldberg created controversy by making a jest about President Trump using an autopen to issue a pardon for Binance’s Changpeng “CZ” Zhao. Co-host Sunny Hostin handed her a memo from show management asking for clarification, which the clearly irritated moderator read publicly before ripping it apart and saying, “It was a joke!” The moment generated rapid demands for her removal on social platforms.
Most recently, following the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner on April 26, 2026, Goldberg suggested on air that President Trump should build a new hotel with a larger ballroom so future events would not need to be held at the D.C. Hilton. “Maybe he needs to build a new hotel there that has a big enough ballroom,” she said, referring to Trump by her customary “you-know-who.” The comment drew fresh mockery online.
In another incident, Goldberg received strong criticism in June 2025 for likening American living standards to conditions in Iran under the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. During the contentious segment, co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin dismissed the analogy, emphasizing that Iran functions as an autocratic state where women encounter severe, government-mandated limitations. When pressed further, Goldberg reiterated her position, remarking “Not if you’re Black,” a statement that detractors viewed as insensitive and dismissive toward individuals enduring Iran’s repressive system.
Some reports have suggested a deliberate plan may exist to gradually remove Goldberg from the show as it enters its 30th season. Individuals speaking with The Blast stated that “many believe that a continued effort is being made to put negative news out there to get a reaction and also for them to materialize it to become true.”
Some claim that Trump allies and Republican figures, who have consistently objected to the show’s progressive-leaning panel, are spreading these unfavorable reports. Concern intensified when Elisabeth Hasselbeck, a previous panelist, appeared as a guest host during the week of March 2, substituting for Alyssa Farah Griffin during her maternity break, sparking questions regarding the network’s direction. Farah Griffin rejoined the show on April 13 after the Easter break, with Goldberg announcing her comeback on April 2.
Show management provided Hasselbeck with specific instructions during her appearance. “Producers were telling Hasselbeck to push Goldberg and the [other panelist] ladies even harder,” an insider shared. “They know what makes great television — and they wanted sparks. Conflict equals ratings.”
Though ABC staff privately assured Goldberg that Hasselbeck’s visit was temporary, many remain doubtful. One source stated that “Elisabeth’s return could be part of a longer play. Some people think she’s being used to slowly nudge Whoopi toward the exit.”
Audience complaints have grown on forums like Reddit, where members have noted Goldberg’s visible trouble with the teleprompter. Some attribute this to her lifelong dyslexia, while others suggest she has mentally withdrawn from the program. “She’s been on autopilot for nearly a decade,” one user noted, with another remarking that the atmosphere now “feels more disrespectful to the show, the topics, and essentially the viewers.”
Goldberg’s name appeared in the Jeffrey Epstein files made public by the Department of Justice in February 2026. A 2013 correspondence indicated a third party requesting permission to use Epstein’s airplane to transport Goldberg to a charitable gathering in Monaco organized by musician Julian Lennon’s White Feather Foundation. Epstein rejected the proposal, and Goldberg, who has a well-known aversion to air travel, strongly rejected any association with the disgraced investor.
In mid-April 2026, Goldberg announced the launch of a publishing imprint called WhoopInk, in partnership with Blackstone Publishing. The venture will focus on discovering fresh, diverse new talent, with Goldberg intimately involved in cover design and promotional decisions. She also plans to publish some of her own upcoming work through the imprint, including a possible memoir sequel. The move signals she is expanding her professional footprint rather than winding down.
Economic considerations seem to be keeping Goldberg with the program despite the turmoil. When questioned about stepping away, she told Entertainment Tonight, “Who can afford to do that? If you don’t marry well, you’ve got to keep working. I’ve got to keep paying those bills, baby.”
Many found these remarks insensitive, particularly given that Goldberg reportedly makes $8 million yearly from “The View” and maintains a net worth ranging from $20 million to $60 million. In 2016, she extended her contract at a stated compensation of $5 million to $6 million annually, establishing her as among daytime TV’s most compensated figures.
Online audiences rapidly condemned her financial statements. “So, she makes millions of dollars every year and does not have money saved? That’s pretty pathetic,” one person commented. Someone else remarked, “Girl, if you’re bad with money, just say that.”
Despite ongoing conjecture, insiders claim that producers support the existing roster, featuring Goldberg with Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, Sara Haines, Ana Navarro, and Alyssa Farah Griffin. However, as scandals accumulate and audience patience diminishes, concerns regarding Goldberg’s tenure at the Hot Topics table intensify with each episode.
In early April 2026, Goldberg made an uncommon public statement addressing termination speculation on air, declaring “We’re still here” alongside Joy Behar — though conspicuously omitting mention of co-host Sunny Hostin, whose contract situation remains unclear as Season 28 approaches completion. Whether predictions of her exit materialize or signify another fabricated story remains unclear, but Goldberg’s standing on “The View” has never seemed more precarious.