ABC Star Claims Bakery Discriminated Against Her Because of Politics

For nearly two decades, Whoopi Goldberg has been one of the most prominent and outspoken co-hosts of ABC’s The View. Known for her candid opinions and willingness to spar with her co-hosts, Goldberg has faced her share of controversies. Most recently, the Sister Act (1992) star found herself in hot water after accusing a Staten Island bakery of refusing to fulfill a birthday order, igniting a debate that has spilled over onto social media and beyond.

The controversy began on November 13, during a live broadcast of The View celebrating Goldberg’s 69th birthday. Co-hosts Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, Sarah Haines, Alyssa Farah Griffin, and Ana Navarro presented Goldberg with a platter of Charlotte Russe desserts. It is a nostalgic treat of sponge cake filled with jelly and Bavarian cream, topped with whipped cream and a cherry.

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During the celebratory moment, Goldberg claimed that the bakery she initially approached had refused to make the desserts for her. “Charlotte Russe has no political leanings,” Goldberg told the audience. “The place that made these refused to make them for me. They said their ovens had gone down, but folks went and got them anyway. It’s not because I’m a woman, but perhaps they did not like my politics.”

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Jill Holtermann, the owner of Holtermann’s Bakery in Staten Island, quickly responded to Goldberg’s allegations. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Holtermann insisted that the issue stemmed from technical difficulties rather than political bias.

“They’d asked us, and we were having trouble with our boilers,” she explained. Holtermann said the order was originally placed for a November 6 appearance on a talk show and again for the November 13 broadcast of The View. However, ongoing boiler issues in the nearly 100-year-old building made it impossible to guarantee the order.

Holtermann also revealed that, while her team couldn’t commit to Goldberg’s long-range order, another customer had picked up approximately 50 Charlotte Russe desserts on the morning of November 13. “I didn’t want to make a commitment that I couldn’t carry through,” Holtermann stated. “We had no idea [if we could] be baking everything.” She denied being aware of any affiliations between the individual who picked up the desserts and The View or its staff.

Despite Holtermann’s explanation, Goldberg took to Instagram to reiterate her claims. According to Goldberg, when her name was used to place the order, the bakery declined, citing equipment issues. However, when another individual placed the same order without using her name, the desserts were fulfilled without hesitation.

 

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Goldberg stopped short of naming the bakery on air, stating, “Listen, this is my mother’s celebration. Pick these up and celebrate with me and my mom. Thank you, everyone, for celebrating my birthday today.”

The dispute has sparked heated reactions from both fans and critics. Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella, a Republican, called for Goldberg to issue a public apology to the bakery, accusing her of unfairly “besmirching and defaming” a local institution. Fossella emphasized that not every disagreement is politically motivated, suggesting the controversy was a misunderstanding exacerbated by miscommunication.

What do you think about this controversy? Should Whoopi Goldberg apologize, or is the bakery not being entirely forthcoming? Share your thoughts in the comments below!