Whoopi Goldberg and Rosie O’Donnell traded fiery barbs on the set of “The View” during a discussion of what constituted racism that centered of President Obama and his wife and their recent descriptions of perceived discriminatory treatment.
Specifically, the spat started after the two talked about Mr. Obama’s claim that he was once mistaken for a valet.
Ms. Goldberg said the president’s treatment was due to stupidity — that some Americans don’t even know what their own president looks like, the Daily Mail reported. But Ms. O’Donnell said racism was likely at play — and that’s when Ms. Goldberg exploded.
“You are a white lady telling me what is racist to you,” she said, the Daily Mail reported.
And Ms. O’Donnell returned fire, saying that she was also gay — and had experienced discrimination — and raising a black child.
“I have a black kid at my house, Whoopi,” she said, the Daily Mail reported. “I have a black kid I raise!”
“That is not the same thing,” Ms. Goldberg said.
Ms. O’Donnell’s response: “You don’t have to be black to know what racism is.”
That’s when Ms. Goldberg disagreed again.
“Yes you do,” she said, the Daily Mail reported. “America is not just a racist country because there are white people who get it. That is why I will not accept the blanket statement that America is racist.”
The blowup comes just a day after the two traded fire over an interview with supermodel Beverly Johnson, who first wanted to appear on “The View” to discuss her alleged near-attack from Bill Cosby in a private interview with Ms. Goldberg — a request that sent Ms. O’Donnell into tantrums.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.