In a stunning development that has sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry, ABC has reportedly issued a permanent ban on Whoopi Goldberg following her controversial on-air comments targeting White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. The incident unfolded during a heated segment on the long-running daytime talk show The View, where Goldberg unleashed a barrage of criticism that many are calling not just offensive but potentially defamatory. Sources close to the network indicate that the decision was swift and decisive, with executives citing a breach of professional standards and the need to protect the show’s reputation amid escalating backlash.
The controversy erupted on January 29, 2025, during an episode of The View where the panel discussed Leavitt’s inaugural press briefing as the youngest White House Press Secretary in U.S. history at just 27 years old. In her briefing, Leavitt addressed the Trump administration’s temporary freeze on certain federal funding, declaring it would eliminate support for “illegal DEI programs,” the “Green New Scam,” and “transgenderism and wokeness across our federal bureaucracy.” Goldberg, a co-host and outspoken liberal voice on the show, reacted with visible fury, accusing Leavitt of hypocrisy and suggesting that the very “wokeness” she decried was what enabled her rise to power.
“I would like her to do homework,” Goldberg fumed on air. “She said something yesterday that pissed me off… ‘There will be no wokeness here.’ Let me explain, without that wokeness, you might not have that job.” She elaborated passionately, arguing that historical fights for women’s and minorities’ rights—framed by her as “wokeness”—paved the way for women like Leavitt to occupy high-profile roles. “Women were not invited to many tables in this nation—the reason we fought and busted our behinds to make sure you didn’t have to worry about this,” Goldberg continued. “Now to hear you talk about it… The wokeness was put in place for a reason because Black people couldn’t get into colleges, because women could not get into the colleges they wanted to go to.”
Co-host Joy Behar piled on, implying Leavitt’s appointment was due to her attractiveness rather than merit: “According to Donald Trump, she’s a 10.” These remarks quickly ignited a firestorm on social media, with conservative commentators and Trump supporters labeling them as sexist, ageist, and dismissive of Leavitt’s accomplishments. Leavitt, a former congressional candidate and Trump campaign spokesperson, had earned her position through years of political experience, but the comments reduced her success to superficial attributes, drawing comparisons to the very biases the hosts claim to oppose.
The backlash was immediate and intense. Viral clips of the segment amassed millions of views, trending under hashtags like #FireWhoopi and #StandWithKaroline. Prominent figures, including Fox News hosts and even some moderate voices, condemned the remarks as unprofessional and emblematic of liberal media hypocrisy. Rumors swirled of a potential $800 million defamation lawsuit from Leavitt against ABC and the View hosts, though fact-checkers have repeatedly debunked these claims as originating from satirical or AI-generated YouTube videos. Despite the lack of an official suit, the damage was done: advertisers reportedly expressed concerns, and ABC’s parent company, Disney, faced mounting pressure from stakeholders to address the controversy.
By September 7, 2025—the current date—ABC’s response had escalated dramatically. Insiders reveal that after internal reviews and consultations with legal teams, the network invoked a rarely used clause in Goldberg’s contract allowing for termination due to conduct that “harms the network’s interests.” Goldberg, an EGOT winner and one of the show’s founding moderators since 2007, was informed of the ban during an emergency meeting. She has been absent from episodes since late August, fueling speculation. A network spokesperson declined to comment directly but issued a statement emphasizing ABC’s commitment to “respectful discourse and diverse viewpoints,” without naming Goldberg.
This isn’t Goldberg’s first brush with controversy. She has faced suspensions before, including a two-week hiatus in 2022 for Holocaust-related comments and another in 2021 for remarks on race and the Founding Fathers. However, those were temporary; this permanent ban marks a seismic shift. Critics argue it reflects ABC’s frustration with The View‘s declining ratings—down 15% year-over-year—and its role as a lightning rod for partisan feuds. Supporters of Goldberg decry the move as censorship, pointing to her history of advocating for free speech and social justice.
Leavitt, meanwhile, has remained composed, focusing on her duties amid the Trump administration’s agenda. In a recent briefing, she sidestepped questions about the incident, stating, “My job is to communicate the president’s vision, not engage in personal spats with entertainers.” Yet, the exchange has broader implications, highlighting the deepening divide between mainstream media and the political right. As The View grapples with its future—rumors suggest a revamp or even cancellation—the Goldberg ban underscores the high stakes of on-air rhetoric in an era of instant accountability.
For fans, this is a heartbreaking end to an iconic era. Goldberg’s unfiltered style defined The View, blending humor, outrage, and insight. Whether this ban holds or leads to a dramatic reinstatement remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the world of daytime TV just got a lot less predictable. As the story develops, all eyes are on ABC’s next move and how it will reshape the landscape of political commentary on television.
