The actress has come under intense criticism for the remarks about the Iranian regime
Whoopi Goldberg has sparked outrage from ABC viewers in the USA after a fierce debate erupted on Wednesday’s broadcast of The View.
Goldberg, 69, compared the experience of Black Americans to people living under Iran’s Islamic regime, sparking immediate pushback from colleague Alyssa Farah Griffin.
The clash occurred during a discussion about Israel-Iran tensions, with the panel addressing the ongoing conflict between the two nations.
When Griffin argued that “Iranians literally throw gay people off of buildings” and “don’t adhere to basic human rights,” Goldberg countered with references to America’s history of violence against marginalised communities.
“Let’s not do that because if we start with that, we have been known in this country to tie gay folks to the car. They used to just keep hanging Black people,” Goldberg said, setting off a heated exchange that would dominate the programme.
Griffin firmly rejected the comparison, stating that “the year 2025 in the United States is nothing like if I step foot wearing this outfit in Iran right now. I can’t have my hair showing, I can’t wear a skirt, I can’t have my arms out.”
ABC
Goldberg insisted the situations were “the same,” arguing that “murdering someone for their difference is not good, whoever does it.” When Griffin repeated that living in the US in 2025 was “very different” than living in Iran, Goldberg responded, “Not if you’re Black.”
Co-host Sunny Hostin added “not for everybody,” supporting Goldberg’s position. The exchange grew increasingly tense as both women held firm to their opposing viewpoints about the comparison between American and Iranian society.
Goldberg expanded on her argument, acknowledging America as “the greatest country in the world” whilst highlighting ongoing concerns for Black Americans.
“Every day we are worried. Do we have to be worried about our kids? Are our kids gonna get shot because they’re running through somebody’s neighbourhood?” she asked.
Women in Iran are beaten, raped, and killed for showing their hair
So here’s Whoopi Goldberg equating her life as a multimillionaire celebrity in America to that pic.twitter.com/Sm1nLQq3YT
— Arynne Wexler (@ArynneWexler) June 18, 2025
Griffin emphasised the stark differences between the two nations, stating that “nobody wants to diminish the very real problems we have in this country” but insisted “it’s important to remember that there are places much darker than this country, and people who deserve rights.”
She highlighted Iran’s lack of democratic processes and severe restrictions on personal freedoms. “I think you know that Iran is significantly worse than our country,” Griffin told co-host Joy Behar during the exchange.
At one point, an exasperated Goldberg said “there’s no way I can make you understand it,” signalling the impasse between the two presenters.
Behar intervened to explain Goldberg’s perspective, telling Griffin to “try to reverse roles with a Black person in this country” and “understand from that point of view, this country does not do them well.”
“If you’re talking about Iran, Iran, of course, is doing worse things, but relatively speaking, it feels bad,” Behar said. However, Griffin maintained her position, responding: “I think you know that Iran is significantly worse than our country.”
The debate ended without resolution, but social media was soon awash with reactions to the debate from viewers at home – and many were left furious with Goldberg’s stance.
“Women in Iran are beaten, raped, and killed for showing their hair. So here’s Whoopi Goldberg equating her life as a multimillionaire celebrity in America to that,” one X user claimed.
“Holy s**t,” a second began. “Whoopi Goldberg said it’s not different to live in the US and Iran in 2025. How can you be this clueless? Her co-host, who has Iranian heritage, is trying to point out that women can’t even dress like she is on the show. Gets shouted down.”
A third echoed: “Women in Iran face brutal violence… for simply showing their hair. Yet, Whoopi Goldberg, a multimillionaire celebrity in America, compares her life to theirs. Life in the United States as a woman is not the same as it is in Iran. Can we all agree?”
“It’s time for Whoopi Goldberg to retire and ABC to cancel The View. Enough is enough,” a fourth pleaded before a fifth weighed in: “I can not believe Whoopi Goldberg compared being Black in America to living in Iran.”
And a sixth came out fighting: “Whoopi Goldberg is out of her damn mind to say things are the same for Black people in America as they are for the people in Iran… She’s talking out of her rear.” (sic)
