On November 18, 2024, Whoopi Goldberg, known for starring in “Sister Act,” has once again found herself in hot water due to controversial remarks. Recently, on a talk show, Whoopi claimed that she was “denied” a birthday cake due to her political views. In response to her criticism, bipartisan lawmakers from Staten Island held a press conference to express support for the innocent victim, Holtermann’s Bakery.
Holtermann’s Bakery, established in Staten Island since 1878 and with a 145-year history, found itself at the center of the controversy. Jill Holtermann, the current operator, was accompanied by Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella, State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, and other elected officials at the press conference last Friday.
Fossella mentioned that the bakery’s oven, with a history of six to seven decades, coincidentally malfunctioned in the first week of November. Due to concerns about their reputation, the bakery hesitated to take orders. Fossella did not directly name Whoopi Goldberg but instead criticized a well-known “actor and comedian” for fabricating facts to defame the bakery.
Jill, the bakery owner, expressed gratitude for the outpouring of community support following the incident. She stated that people from as far as Arizona called to show support, with some even offering donations to the bakery. She was touched by the community’s strong backing of their family business, noting that her father would have been amazed by the support for the small shop.
Councilman David Carr also indirectly referenced Whoopi’s situation, criticizing those who consider themselves too important to have a malfunctioning oven. He emphasized that Staten Island residents do not discriminate based on political views and are willing to welcome all customers.
Whoopi celebrated her birthday on “The View” last Wednesday by presenting 48 “Charlotte Russe” cupcake cakes to her co-hosts. However, during the celebration, she hesitated to share the bakery’s information, claiming she was “denied” a birthday cake, suggesting a political bias. Another co-host mockingly pretended to spit out a piece of cake during Whoopi’s remarks.
Further investigation by Entertainment Weekly revealed that Whoopi’s undisclosed bakery was the century-old Holtermann’s Bakery in Staten Island. They interviewed Jill to clarify the sequence of events.
According to the report, two weeks ago, Whoopi placed orders with Holtermann’s Bakery for a talk show on November 6 and a podcast episode on the following Wednesday. Jill informed Whoopi about the oven issue and declined the orders, unsure if the oven could produce the cakes when she called.
Jill also disclosed to Entertainment Weekly that on the previous Wednesday morning, an unfamiliar woman picked up around 50 “Charlotte Russe” cupcakes, but she did not link the individual to Whoopi’s show and insisted that the incident was apolitical.
Despite being criticized by various media outlets, Whoopi ignored the comments and only posted a video on her social media platform, where she has 2 million followers.
In the video, Whoopi addressed the controversy, stating that despite the rejection of her orders due to alleged kitchen equipment issues, someone else, without using her name, managed to get 48 identical cakes. She concluded by saying that the situation wouldn’t deter her from enjoying delicious cakes and celebrating her birthday.
This incident is not the first time Whoopi Goldberg has misspoken on a show. Two years ago, she faced backlash for claiming that the Nazi massacre of Jews was not about race but about humanity’s inhumane behavior towards others. The television network apologized and suspended her for two weeks at that time.
According to a report by the Associated Press on November 17, Whoopi Goldberg is described as a “blunt liberal” who has recently refused to mention the name of the newly elected President Trump on her show.