Whoopi Goldberg, co-host of The View, has faced backlash for claiming she, too, has to “work for a living,” a comment that sparked controversy among fans and social media users who felt her remarks were “tone-deaf.” During a recent episode, Goldberg, 69, addressed the ongoing economic struggles of middle- and working-class Americans, expressing empathy for those dealing with financial strain. However, her attempt at solidarity quickly drew criticism online.
Goldberg’s remarks came during a discussion on The View about former President Donald Trump’s election win and the broader economic climate. “I appreciate that people are having a hard time. Me too. I work for a living,” she said. Goldberg continued, “If I had all the money in the world, I would not be here, OK? So, I’m a working person.”
The EGOT winner, known for her prolific career in film and television, then went on to describe how rising inflation has affected her family as well, noting the financial pressures of feeding her granddaughter and great-granddaughter. “My kid has to feed her family. My great-granddaughter has to be fed by her family. I know it’s hard out there,” she added.
This attempt to relate to economic hardships drew immediate backlash on social media, with many viewers arguing that Goldberg’s significant wealth set her apart from the average American struggling to make ends meet. One X user criticized her comments, stating, “Whoopi Goldberg claims she’s a ‘working class American’ and that her family currently knows the struggles of affording groceries… She has a net worth of $45 MILLION.” Another user added, “If she’s working class, I’m starving class.”
The criticism continued, with one commenter remarking, “All these overpaid actors are completely out of touch with reality.” Others questioned when Goldberg last did her own grocery shopping, given her remarks about grocery store owners. Just days prior, Goldberg had also sparked backlash for calling grocery store owners “pigs” during a discussion on inflation. “Your grocery bills are what they are because the folks that own the groceries are pigs,” she said, attributing high prices to greed in the grocery industry rather than economic policy.
These comments have only fueled further criticism, with fans pointing out that Goldberg’s financial standing makes her perspective very different from the struggles of everyday Americans. “She’s slandering all grocery shop owners. She’s despicable,” one user wrote.
For many, Goldberg’s attempt to empathize with the working class has come off as disingenuous, highlighting a disconnect between celebrities and the realities faced by the average American family. The criticism underscores a broader frustration among the public with wealthy celebrities who appear to downplay the economic struggles impacting millions of households across the nation.