The 2-week suspension follows vital criticism after Goldberg mentioned race was not an element within the Holocaust.
NEW YORK — Whoopi Goldberg has been suspended for 2 weeks as co-host of “The View” due to what the top of ABC Information known as her “improper and hurtful feedback” about Jews and the Holocaust.
“Whereas Whoopi has apologized, I’ve requested her to take time to replicate and be taught concerning the affect of her feedback. Your entire ABC Information group stands in solidarity with our Jewish colleagues, mates, household and communities,” ABC Information President Kim Godwin mentioned in an announcement posted Tuesday on Twitter.
The suspension got here a day after Goldberg’s remark throughout a dialogue on “The View” that race was not an element within the Holocaust. Goldberg apologized hours later and once more on Tuesday’s morning episode, however the unique comment drew condemnation from a number of outstanding Jewish leaders.
“My phrases upset so many individuals, which was by no means my intention,” she mentioned Tuesday morning. “I perceive why now and for that I’m deeply, deeply grateful as a result of the knowledge I obtained was actually useful and helped me perceive some various things.”
Goldberg made her unique feedback throughout a dialogue on the present Monday a few Tennessee faculty board’s banning of “Maus,” a Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel concerning the Nazi loss of life camps throughout World Battle II. She mentioned the Holocaust was “not about race … it’s about man’s inhumanity to different man.”
“I misspoke,” Goldberg mentioned on the opening of Tuesday’s present.
The flare-up over Goldberg’s remarks this week highlighted the enduring complexity of some race-related points, together with the widespread however strongly contested notion that solely individuals of coloration will be victims of racism.
“The View” introduced on Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League and creator of “It May Occur Right here,” on Tuesday to debate why her phrases had been hurtful.
“Jewish individuals in the mean time are feeling besieged,” Greenblatt mentioned.
Rabbi Abraham Cooper, affiliate dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Middle, praised Goldberg for being outspoken through the years on social points however mentioned he struggled to know her assertion on the Holocaust.
“The one rationalization that I’ve for it’s that there’s a new definition of racism that has been put on the market within the public not too long ago that defines racism completely because the focusing on of individuals of coloration. And clearly historical past teaches us in any other case,” Cooper mentioned.
“Every thing about Nazi Germany and concerning the focusing on of the Jews and concerning the Holocaust was about race and racism. That’s the unlucky, unassailable historic reality,” he mentioned.
Kenneth L. Marcus, chairman of the Louis D. Brandeis Middle for Human Rights Beneath Legislation, linked Goldberg’s remarks to broader misconceptions of the Holocaust, Jewish id and antisemitism.
“In her error, she was reflecting a misunderstanding of Jewish id that’s each widespread and harmful that’s generally described as erasive antisemitism,” mentioned Marcus, who’s the creator of ‘The Definition of Anti-Semitism.’
“It’s the notion that Jews ought to be seen solely as being white, privileged oppressors,” he mentioned. “It denies Jewish id and includes a whitewashing of Jewish historical past.”
Marcus referred to the usage of anti-Jewish stereotypes “about being highly effective, controlling and sinister,” coupled with downplaying or denying antisemitism.
In Israel, being Jewish isn’t seen in racial phrases, partly due to the nation’s nice variety. But Jewish id goes far past faith. Israelis sometimes confer with the “Jewish individuals” or “Jewish nation,” describing a gaggle or civilization sure collectively by a shared historical past, tradition, language and traditions and deep ties to Jewish communities abroad.
On “The View” Monday, Goldberg, who’s Black, had expressed shock that some Tennessee faculty board members had been uncomfortable about nudity in “Maus.”
“I imply, it’s concerning the Holocaust, the killing of 6 million individuals, however that didn’t trouble you?” she mentioned. “In the event you’re going to do that, then let’s be truthful about it. As a result of the Holocaust isn’t about race. No, it’s not about race.”
She continued on that line regardless of pushback from a few of her fellow panelists.
The U.S. Holocaust Museum in Washington responded to Goldberg with a tweet.
“Racism was central to Nazi ideology. Jews weren’t outlined by faith, however by race. Nazi racist beliefs fueled genocide and mass homicide,” it mentioned.
That tweet also included a link to the museum’s online encyclopedia, which mentioned the Nazis attributed unfavorable stereotypes about Jews to a biologically decided racial heritage.
On Twitter, there have been a number of requires Goldberg’s firing, the place it appeared caught up within the acquainted debates between left and proper.
Greenblatt mentioned the discuss present, out there for a brand new co-host following final summer time’s departure of Meghan McCain, ought to contemplate hiring a Jewish girl to maintain the problem of antisemitism within the forefront.
AP Tv Author Lynn Elber in Los Angeles and correspondent Luis Andres Henao in Princeton, N.J. contributed to this report.
AP correspondents Luis Andres Henao in Princeton, N.J. and Josef Federman in Jerusalem contributed to this report.
