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Al Franken says Whoopi Goldberg's name is proof she's not anti-Semitic: 'She chose Goldberg'
By Yael Halon
Published February 02, 2022
Former Democratic Sen. Al Franken suggested on Wednesday that Whoopi Goldberg is not anti-Semitic because she chose "Goldberg" as her stage name.
"The View" co-host was suspended from the show on Tuesday after she declared repeatedly on-air that the Holocaust was "not about race." The former Minnesota senator addressed ABC's handling of the incident during a CNN on appearance on Wednesday, citing the fact that she went by a traditionally Jewish last name professionally as proof that she is not anti-Semitic.
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"Well, I know Whoopi, she is not anti-Semitic," Franken said. "She chose Goldberg for her last name for a stage name."
Goldberg, born Caryn Elaine Johnson, adopted the name in 1984 as her Broadway career was taking off.
Former Sen. Al Franken (left) | Whoopi Goldberg (left)
Goldberg backtracked on her comments on Monday, offering a written apology, telling "The Late Show" that she understands she upset people after receiving "very angry" messages from the public. She seemed to somewhat defend her remarks, though, saying as a Black woman she viewed race as something she could see.
"I understand," she said. "I felt differently. I respect everything everyone is saying to me and I don’t want to fake apologize."
On Tuesday, she apologized again and Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt appeared on "The View" to correct her comments.
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Franken, who was ousted from the Senate by his own party amid sexual misconduct allegations in 2018, praised Goldberg for issuing a "sincere and wholesome apology."
"I think she gave a sincere apology," he said. "I think what she said wasn’t quite what she meant. I thought it was great they had the head of the Anti-Defamation League on. I don’t know how they've handled other guests or hosts on that show before, but I was very taken with how sincere and wholesome the apology was."
https://www.foxnews.com/media/al-franken-whoopi-golbergs-suspended-holocaust