Whoopi Goldberg: Living in Iran is exactly the same as living in America
Goldberg might be a good actress, that doesn't mean she's any sort of world expert on current affairs (or a good person either).
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During a charged discussion on ABC’s The View on June 18, Whoopi Goldberg ignited controversy by asserting that life for Black Americans in the U.S. is “no different” from living under Iran’s authoritarian regime. The remark, made amid a segment on the escalating Israel-Iran conflict, prompted a sharp rebuttal from co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin, who has Iranian heritage, and fueled intense backlash online.
The panel was addressing Israel’s Operation Rising Lion, launched June 13 against Iran’s nuclear facilities, and President Donald Trump’s recent threats toward Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Griffin emphasized Iran’s human rights violations, noting, “The Iranians literally throw gay people off buildings. They don’t adhere to basic human rights.” She argued that life in the U.S. in 2025 differs starkly from Iran, citing restrictions like dress codes that would bar her current appearance in Tehran.
Goldberg, however, countered that systemic racism and violence against Black Americans create comparable oppression. “Not if you’re Black,” she said, referencing historical U.S. atrocities, including lynchings and violence against gay individuals. When Griffin highlighted Iran’s lack of free elections, Goldberg, visibly frustrated, responded, “There’s no way I can make you understand,” asserting that Black Americans only secured voting rights in 1965.
Co-host Sunny Hostin echoed Goldberg’s perspective, stating, “Not for everybody,” while Joy Behar urged Griffin to consider the experiences of Black Americans, saying, “This country does not do them well.” Hostin also labeled Israel’s strikes on Iran as “illegal” under international law, broadening the debate.
The comment drew swift criticism on social media, with X users decrying Goldberg’s comparison as misguided. One post noted that over 30,642 women have been arrested in Iran since 2022 for not wearing hijabs, many facing torture, rape, or death, contrasting this with Goldberg’s life as a wealthy U.S. celebrity. “Women in Iran are beaten, raped, and killed for showing their hair. So here’s Whoopi Goldberg equating her life… to that,” read one X comment. Another user wrote, “How can she 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.”
The exchange, cut short by a commercial break, highlighted tensions over moral equivalence and systemic racism, set against the backdrop of Iran’s missile attacks on Israel, including a strike on Soroka Hospital in Be’er Sheva.