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.

Did Whoopi Overreact? Tell Us on Facebook

http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,entry&id=982743&pid=982742&uts=1297717076

http://www.popeater.com/mm_track/popeater/tv/?s_channel=us.tvpop&s_account=aolpopeater,aolsvc&omni=1&ke=1

http://cdn.channel.aol.com/cs_feed_v1_6/csfeedwrapper.swf

Whoopi!!!

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

DISCIULLO/bauergriffinonline.com

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)

Wednesday 16 February

By Ernie

Vote down Vote up Report this

Gosh, Tiff, just how high is it?

Monday 14 February

By lulu

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

To Andy and Cashmanisking - I agree 100%

By sally

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Whoopi should have been upset, as should have Louis Gossett,jr. and Cuba Gooding,jr. Did either of them also host the Oscars? I think the article mentions there have been 13 black winners, but left out 3. Also there might not be any good performances by black actors this year. I don't think we should nominate people based on color or nationality, but on the performance. I am not black, but white, I think the NY Times is arrogant.

By joe

Nope, only if the list was supposed to include everyone, and it wasn't.

By lucitee

In the matter of race, it seems like the "Whoopi's" of the world use "race" as a CRUTCH far too often! Especially when they feel slighted, or when they don't get their way! WAY too much hurtful vitriol to be constructive! Check out the facts before you label it as an insult! If the "rhetoric" was REALLY about race, Oprah
would be the FIRST to expound on it as being wrong! Should one race be favored over another JUST because of their "skin color"? Should experience and talent not be the deciding factor? FUNNY that you seldom hear Conservatives mentioning race! No matter WHAT side you are on, if you espouse racism, it is wrong, cheap, degrading, demeaning, shameful and disgusting!

By scpeach

I agree with you Sal, the writers certainly should not be nominated for any awards. As an English Major and self professed excellent writer, I will never present a piece of work that needs so much clarification. NY Times, admit that the work is poorly written, apologize, and work on a new list of writers. Im available for hire.

By Paul

Its amazing how flustered she got over not being mentioned as if this article gave the final approval on all of the winners. I guess once they stop numbering which black actor, coach, athlete ["the first black to win this award"]it doesn't mean as much. Being equal as an actor isn't enough, it still has to be " whoopi, the third black actress/actor[?] to win the award".

By Madelyn

Everyone likes to be recognized and appreciated for their efforts even you.

By Tiff

I totally agree, Sally!

By Kelly

Gee, Whoopie, if everyone already knows you won, then what difference does it make if they didn't put you in the article?

By Emil Kerpluffnik

I agree Kelly 100% >>>>>Whoopie needs to learn the world does not evolve around her >>> I really used to enjoy her but she is so obnoxious anymore, If you dont share her views or, concerns and, agrere with her she goes off the deep end but hey That is why they say God made us all different huh?? i really dont pay much attention to her or the view anymore >>>bad show for sure

Note to Whoopi, read before you rant. :\

By stu

whoopie=funny=never!

By phoenix

canada lee [poitier understudy] was like jackie robinson he paved the way for every non white.

By Joyce Veronick

Whoopi, are you kidding me???? I cannot believe how important you actors think you are-- Cure cancer--do something that really counts in this world!!!

By Blackjkdealer

I have to agree with you Joyce.

By Jan

WHO-PEE PLEASE GO AWAY!

By George Bush jr

"Whoopi" is a "Loud mouth Black Racist Idiot"...that's all, just a LOUD MOUTH BLACK RACIST IDIOT

By cowboybarboss

Years ago, I actually enjoyed Whoopi's stand up act and appreciated her as an artist. These days, not so much. These days she's simply irrelevant. Because she is not in the spotlight, she is doing all she can to keep some glimmer of celebrity.

By jay

Get over yourself Whoopi! As far as the dust up dur to a lack of Black actors nominated this year. I thought the nominations were given based on quality of performance, not skin color.

Page 4 of 41