Whoopi Goldberg’s ‘deeply offensive’ Holocaust comments draw harsh reaction from Anti-Defamation League
Polarization,Antisemitism,Holocaust,Whoopi Goldberg,Celebrities
The Anti-Defamation League is calling out Whoopi Goldberg for her "deeply offensive" comments about whether the Holocaust, which involved the murder of 6 million Jewish people, was racially motivated.
In a new interview with The Sunday Times of London, shared during Hanukkah, Goldberg suggested Jews are divided about whether they are a race, religion or both.
"My best friend said, ‘Not for nothing is there no box on the census for the Jewish race. So that leads me to believe that we’re probably not a race,’ " she recalled.
ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt tells USA TODAY in a statement, "Whoopi Goldberg’s comments about the Holocaust and race are deeply offensive and incredibly disappointing, especially given that this is not the first time she had made remarks like this. In a moment when antisemitic incidents have surged across the US, she should realize that making such ignorant statements can have real consequences."
He added: "Whoopi needs to apologize to the Jewish community immediately and actually commit to educating herself on the true nature of antisemitism and how it was the driving force behind the systemic slaughter of millions. She shouldn't do it for the ratings – she should do it simply because it's the right thing to do. Failure to address the issue would raise serious questions about her sincerity and solidarity with her Jewish viewers and all those who experience hate."
