“Educate Whoopi”: Fiery TV Clash Erupts Over Goldberg’s Iran Comments—Critics Say “The View” Host Crossed the Line

In a segment that’s set social media ablaze and reignited fierce debates about race, freedom, and American values, Whoopi Goldberg has found herself at the center of a national firestorm. The longtime co-host of “The View”—never a stranger to controversy—sparked outrage this week after comparing the experience of being Black in modern-day America to life under Iran’s brutal theocratic regime.

It all started with a heated discussion about Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar’s recent remarks. Omar, herself a refugee from war-torn Somalia, described the United States as “one of the worst countries in the world,” citing images of military vehicles on American streets and accusing President Trump of “propping himself up like a failed dictator.” Her words were met with disbelief and condemnation from commentators across the political spectrum, who pointed out that millions risk everything to come to America, not flee from it.

But the real explosion came when the conversation turned to Iran—a country infamous for its violent crackdowns on women, LGBTQ+ citizens, and political dissenters. As one panelist pointed out, “Iranians throw gay people off buildings. They don’t adhere to basic human rights.” That’s when Whoopi Goldberg jumped in, drawing a parallel that left jaws on the floor.

“Let’s not do that,” Goldberg said. “We have been known in this country to tie gay folks to the car… They used to just keep hanging Black people.”

Her co-hosts pushed back, insisting that life in America in 2025 is nothing like the horrors faced by women and minorities in Iran. “It’s very different in the United States than it is to live in Iran,” one panelist insisted. Goldberg, undeterred, doubled down: “Not if you are Black. Not for everybody. Not if you are Black.”

The backlash was swift and fierce.

“Time to Educate Whoopi Goldberg”

On rival networks and across conservative media, Goldberg’s comments were met with a mixture of disbelief and fury. “It’s time to educate Whoopi Goldberg,” declared one commentator, holding up the case of Mahsa Amini—a 22-year-old Iranian woman who di3d in police custody after being arrested for not wearing her hijab. “She would not have the privilege of being on a talk show without her hijab, talking about the Iranian regime, challenging them and criticizing them any day of the week. That is what Whoopi Goldberg experiences in the United States as a successful Black woman.”

Others pointed out the stark, brutal realities of life in Iran: the death penalty for political protest, for being in a same-s3x relationship, for simply showing your legs in public. “In this country, we have Pride Month,” one guest remarked. “If she can’t recognize the difference, she should not be on the air disseminating this.”

Citing a PBS report, another commentator detailed the Iranian government’s recent crackdown on dissent: “They k!lled 500 people, detained 200,000 including children. People were shot intentionally in the eye, faced s3xual violence, rape, electrocution of their genitals. And apparently, it’s harder to live in this country?”

The message was clear: whatever America’s flaws—and the panelists acknowledged the nation’s painful history of racism and violence—there is simply no comparison to the daily, state-sanctioned terror faced by Iranians, especially women and LGBTQ+ citizens.

“Ignorant of the Facts”

The panel didn’t hold back on Goldberg’s personal privilege, either. “Whoopi Goldberg has millions of dollars, is a famous actress, is on a talk show,” one commentator pointed out. “She is ignorant of the facts. I want to try to be kind because my expectation for Whoopi Goldberg is lowered. I liked her better when she was playing an actress on ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’… Now she has become one [an alien]. Read, learn. She says a lot of offensive things. This goes beyond the pale.”

The segment took on an even sharper edge as panelists highlighted new laws in Iran making life even more dangerous for women—laws that carry the death penalty for showing skin in public, a reality unthinkable for any American talk show host. “It is unconscionable that she would try to make a moral equivalency,” one guest fumed.

“Offensive and Out of Touch”

The outrage wasn’t limited to Goldberg. Congresswoman Omar’s comments also drew fire. “A person from Mogadishu whose family fled a civil war… to say somehow this is equivalent to the United States?” one guest asked incredulously. “The only people fleeing this country are illegal immigrants with criminal records or Rosie O’Donnell. Everyone else is real happy that they live in the good old U.S. of A.”

The panel called for more education, more research, and more perspective—especially on a show with the reach and influence of “The View.” “If you can’t see where we are coming from, then you have no hope for where we can go. That is as racist as anything else I’ve heard.”

A National Conversation—Or a National Divide?

The Goldberg controversy has reignited a national conversation about race, privilege, and the meaning of freedom in America. For some, her comments are a necessary reminder that the fight for equality is far from over. For others, they are a dangerous distortion—an insult to those who risk their lives for even the most basic rights in countries like Iran.

As the debate rages on, one thing is certain: in the age of viral soundbites and polarized politics, every word matters. Whoopi Goldberg, never one to back down, may have intended to spark a conversation. What she got was a firestorm.