Whoopi Goldberg makes surprising comments about her life struggles while holding onto her position at The View

Whoopi Goldberg, co-host of The View, has downplayed the backlash she faced over her controversial remarks on Iran. She recently participated in an event in Sicily and chose to focus on discussing the challenges of being a celebrity rather than addressing the controversy.

On a recent episode of The View, Goldberg drew criticism for drawing a comparison between the experiences of being a black American and living in Iran’s authoritarian regime. This drew rebuke from her fellow co-hosts and a wave of backlash from critics urging for her dismissal.

Despite the backlash, Goldberg proceeded to attend The Taobuk Awards held at the Teatro Antico in Taormina. During the event, she opted to talk about her upcoming book ‘Bits and Pieces,’ which delves into her challenging upbringing in New York City back in 2024.

At one point, the host asked some of the ‘biggest’ difficulties Goldberg has had to overcome.

‘I get dressed, put on my heels and try to look my best,’ she quipped. ‘So this is the biggest one.’ 

Speaking of the venue, she joked that ‘so many beautiful theaters around the world have hosted me.’

Meanwhile, commenters invaded her Instagram account to trash Goldberg for her remarks last Wednesday on The View in response to co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin praising American freedoms.  

‘The U.S. in 2025 is not as bad as Iran in 2025,’ Griffin said on the show.

‘Not if you’re black,’ Goldberg cut in.

The View host Whoopi Goldberg has shrugged off the firestorm that erupted over her outrageous comments on Iran by appearing at a ceremony in Sicily 

During an episode of the daytime talk show last week, Goldberg compared life as a black American to living under Iran’s authoritarian regime – earning blowback from her co-hosts and a flood of critics calling for her firing 

‘Listen, I’m sorry. They used to just keep hanging black people,’ she continued, telling Griffin ‘there’s no way I can make you understand it.’

‘It is the same.’

The fallout for her remarks has been ruthless.   

‘Please move to Iran. And STAY there,’ a top commenter wrote on Goldberg’s Instagram post highlighting the ceremony in Sicily. 

‘How can you not be embarrassed to show your face in public?’ another added.

‘You realize married women in Iran need their husband’s permission to get a passport and travel? Is there a law in America I am unaware of that states the same about black women in America?’ a third chimed in.

At the ceremony, Goldberg also gave her bizarre thoughts on international borders, saying she has ‘a hard time believing in borders because you can’t see them.’

‘You know, somebody says “that’s the border,” and you say, “Oh, okay.” But then next week they say, “Oh! The border’s changed. It’s over here now.” So, I don’t know if I follow borders,’ she said.

Goldberg attended The Taobuk Awards at the historic outdoor Teatro Antico in Taormina, where she spoke about her 2024 book ‘Bits and Pieces’ covering her difficult upbringing in New York City 

‘I tend to just do as my mother suggested, and go where I want to go. And if somebody says, “You can’t be here,” say, “Why not?” – and then move accordingly.’  

The View co-host Joy Behar first discussed Goldberg’s absence from the show last week, announcing that she would be away in Italy the following week.

She will return on on July 7, after the show takes it annual weeklong break, an ABC spokeswoman confirmed.

The ordeal comes a month after top brass at ABC News and its parent company Disney were said have asked the ladies to dial back their complaining about Donald Trump.

The daily talk show has been filled with criticisms of the commander-in-chief and his policies, with mostly kind words for Democrats.

It also comes weeks after ABC News took extreme measures by firing of longtime correspondent Terry Moran for attacking the Trump administration in a post on social media. 

In December, ABC was forced to fork over $15 million to settle a libel suit brought by after Moran’s longtime colleague, George Stephanopoulos, made erroneous on-air comments about Trump.

On last Wednesday’s episode of The View, Goldberg questioned whether the many human rights violations perpetrated by the Iranian regime was worse than the treatment of some groups in America.

Goldberg is set to return to the show on July 7 

Media personalities from Bill Maher to Adam Corolla also seized on the remarks. 

Pictured, Goldberg accepting the award. She will be back on the air on July 7

‘Let’s just remember, too, the Iranians literally throw gay people off of buildings,’ Griffin said. ‘They don’t adhere to basic human rights.’ 

‘Let’s not do that,’ Goldberg replied. ‘Because if we start with that, we have been known in this country to tie gay folks to the car.’ 

Media personalities from Bill Maher to Adam Corolla also seized on the remarks.

On his show last week, Maher asked the Democratic party to ‘do something’ about The View after playing the clip.

The network has not commented on the ongoing criticism facing Goldberg.