Whoopi Goldberg acknowledges the Holocaust was 'indeed about race' in discussion with Anti-Defamation League CEO


The CEO of the Anti-Defamation League joined The View for a discussion about anti-Semitism Tuesday, one day after co-host Whoopi Goldberg controversially claimed the Holocaust was "not about race."
Goldberg again apologized at the start of The View for making this claim about the Holocaust a day earlier, saying she "misspoke" and now realizes the Holocaust was "indeed about race because Hitler and the Nazis considered Jews to be an inferior race." She then introduced Jonathan Greenblatt, the CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, and asked him to explain to The View why she was wrong.
"There's no question that the Holocaust was about race," Greenblatt said. "That's how the Nazis saw it as they perpetrated the systematic annihilation of the Jewish people across continents, across countries, with deliberate and ruthless cruelty."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Greenblatt went on to explain that Jewish people have been persecuted "in large part because many people felt they were not just a different religion, but indeed a different race," adding that The View is an "important" platform to remind viewers that "anti-Semitism remains a clear and present danger."
Prior to releasing an apology on Monday night, Goldberg taped an interview on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in which she appeared less contrite, saying she didn't "want to fake-apologize" and was "very upset that people misunderstood what I was saying." She later released a statement saying she was "sorry for the hurt I have caused," and she cited a rebuttal from Greenblatt to note that "I stand corrected."
The View has not yet filled an open co-host seat vacated by Meghan McCain, and Greenblatt on Tuesday urged the show to consider hiring a Jewish person, "who can bring these issues of anti-Semitism, who can bring these issues of representation to The View every single day."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
New Mexico to investigate death of Gene Hackman, wife
speed read The Oscar-winning actor and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their home with no signs of foul play
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Giant schnauzer wins top prize at Westminster show
Speed Read Monty won best in show at the 149th Westminster Kennel Club dog show
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar take top Grammys
Speed Read Beyoncé took home album of the year for 'Cowboy Carter' and Kendrick Lamar's diss track 'Not Like Us' won five awards
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The Louvre is giving 'Mona Lisa' her own room
Speed Read The world's most-visited art museum is getting a major renovation
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Honda and Nissan in merger talks
Speed Read The companies are currently Japan's second and third-biggest automakers, respectively
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Taylor Swift wraps up record-shattering Eras tour
Speed Read The pop star finally ended her long-running tour in Vancouver, Canada
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Drake claims illegal boosting, defamation
Speed Read The rapper accused Universal Music of boosting Kendrick Lamar's diss track and said UMG allowed him to be falsely accused of pedophilia
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'Wicked' and 'Gladiator II' ignite holiday box office
Speed Read The combination of the two movies revitalized a struggling box office
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published