Whoopi Goldberg Misfires in Attack on Article About Black Oscar Winners

By Marc Schneider Posted Feb 14th 2011 03:36PM

Whoopi Goldberg used her bully pulpit on 'The View' on Monday to blast The New York Times and two of its marquee writers for what she believed was a disrespectful article about race and the Academy Awards. "I'm embarrassed to tell you it hurt me terribly," the actress said in a segment focusing on a piece written by Manohla Dargis and A. O. Scott that listed several black Oscar winners dating back to 1940, but didn't include Goldberg.

"When you win an Academy Award, that's part of what you've done, your legacy. I will always be Academy Award winner Whoopi Goldberg," she said during her lengthy rant, referring to her best supporting actress win for 'Ghost.' "This is not hidden information. And to these two critics, the head critics of The New York Times. It's hard to not take it personally."

The article, titled 'Hollywood's Whiteout,' apparently riled Goldberg up because it seemed to list all of the black Americans who have won an Oscar. A closer look, however, proved otherwise. The authors write that nine years ago, when Denzel Washington and Halle Berry won their historic Oscars:

"Real change seemed to have come to movies or at least the Academy, which had given statuettes to a total of seven black actors in the previous 73 years."

The article then notes that after Washington and Berry came a string of Oscar wins for Jamie Foxx, Forest Whitaker, Morgan Freeman, Jennifer Hudson and Mo'Nique.

It was presumably this passage, along with mentions of Sidney Poitier and Hattie McDaniel, that caused Goldberg to believe she had been forgotten. "People in Somalia know. People in China know," she said on 'The View.' "I know it's hard to believe, but I'm a worldwide person who's known."

But if a correction is what she desires, Goldberg will be waiting a very, very long time. PopEater reached out to the Times, and a source at the newspaper clarified that Goldberg won her Oscar for 1990's 'Ghost,' more than a decade before the time period that the authors were focusing on. In the article, Dargis and Scott were discussing race and the cinematic representation of people of color since 2002, when Berry and Washington were triumphant.

Later on Monday, the Times released a statement that tweaks Goldberg without naming her:

"The error lies with those who are reading the story incorrectly. The point of the piece was not to name every black actor or actress who has been awarded an Oscar, it was to draw a comparison between the number who won prior to 2002 (the year Halle Berry and Denzel Washington won) and those who have won since. And the story states very clearly that in 73 years, prior to 2002, only seven black actors/actresses won Oscars."

Also not mentioned in the article were Louis Gossett, Jr. (1982) and Cuba Gooding, Jr. (1996).

This year's Oscars have raised ire because there are no persons of color nominated in the acting categories.

Goldberg has not responded to requests to clarify her comments on 'The View,' which included some pretty pointed attacks on the journalists and the newspaper.

"I don't know what to say about what you've done. It's just, well, I can say, is that you're sloppy in your work and you're supposed to be better than this," she said. "This is The New York Times, not some bozo newspaper from Hoochi-Coochie land. This is The New York Times. I just, you know, it hurts."

► Read the New York Times article here.

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Whoopi!!!

Whoopi Goldberg leaves the Big Apple Apple store after getting her laptop repaired on Feb. 9. More Pics of the Star >>

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Whoopi Goldberg Snapshots

NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 10: Actress Whoopi Goldberg leaves the Lincoln Center Apple Store on February 10, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Ray Tamarra/Getty Images)

Whoopi Goldberg Snapshots

NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 10: Actress Whoopi Goldberg leaves the Lincoln Center Apple Store on February 10, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Ray Tamarra/Getty Images)

Whoopi Goldberg Snapshots

©BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM Whoopi Goldberg leaves the Apple store after getting her laptop repaired. NON-EXCLUSIVE February 9, 2011 Job: 110210X3 New York, New York www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com

Whoopi Goldberg Snapshots

©BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM ***NO CANADA RIGHTS*** Whoopi Goldberg shops along Lincoln Road with friends, including a stop at Gap. NON-EXCLUSIVE January 15, 2011 Job: 110115X4 Miami, Florida www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com

Whoopi Goldberg Snapshots

Tags: Oscars, the view, whoopi goldberg

Comments

(807)

Monday 14 February

By lulu

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

It amazes me how many people who write news articles do not even know how to spell the simplest of words!

By Bilbo

We do it on purpose so you have something to post. Happy Valentines

By usmcqtco

Their libtard views have pushed their revenues down so far that they are unable to afford proofreaders.

By Gerio

First of all, words can be "easier" to spell than others, not "simpler": try something else to get attention or to be amazed by: like "substance"!

By billcarol88

I would say you are a very easy person to amaze. I know it is hard for some of you scholars to understand that all people are not as smart as you. I guess that is what amazes me is all you smart people are on here to condone everyone.

By mickey

Whoppie, was that you selling adult diapers the other day? and don't say, it Depends on what newspaper ad I was reading.

Wednesday 02 March

By lllllllllllllll

lulu:

CAN YOU READ THIS? Olny srmat poelpe can. I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. Teh phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheeearchr, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Yaeh and you awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt

SPELLING DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING IF YOU HAVE A HALF A BRAIN...

( :

By jspaggs

billcarol88: I think you mean "condemn", not "condone". The two words have opposite meanings.

By Bubba

What an ego and then some.
She`s a freak

By Irish Rose

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

It is not spelling that is at fault...it is use of keyboard and lack of spell check.

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

jspaggs I appreciate you pointing out my error. I am so very sorry I used the incorrect word as you so politely pointed out. Please forgive me for making my one mistake for the year. I do appreciate your being able to point out mistakes.

By Ruben

This is not a spelling bee fool. Just express your opinion and move on. Live with it fool. Geeeez !

Tuesday 15 February

By Richard

SPELLING DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING IF YOU HAVE A HALF A BRAIN...

...but if you have a WHOLE brain, it does.

By xnbghyu

Yer rite....When whuppi runs her mouf then I change the channel..I love this , So does My boyfriend .he is almost 11year older than me .i met him via agegapsin gles.c'om a nice place for seeking age le ss love.which gives you a chance to make your life better and open opportunities for you to meet the attractive young girls and treat you like a king. Maybe you wanna check it out or tell your friends.. Just love it

By Ernie

Goshamity Whupi, jas anudder reason for me ta thank you ain't all dat, girlfrien'...

By chiwali

I agree she should NOT look to white america for ANY kind of validation. I don't. Please, that garbage YOU call acting. Tom Cruise, Elizabeth Taylor, Clark Gable etc... my cat does better acting

By JAY

Are you trying to write like you are ignorant and Black? If you are Black, shame on you and if you are white you are showing your ignorance.

By On your side

Now is this nice? Very Funny.

By tigger

Yer rite....When whuppi runs her mouf then I change the channel..

By kimberly

This is a disgusting post the is reminiscent of Jim Crow laws and Gone with the Wind dialogue. While i am not surprise by racist ignorance, I do marvel at the author's desire to advertise it.

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