Whoopi Goldberg Addresses ‘Stupid Stuff’ Done While Drunk

Whoopi Goldberg is aware that her past comments have ruffled many feathers, and she is revealing that alcohol may have played a role in her making them. 

The “Ghost” star, who has co-hosted “The View” for over a decade, has often sparked debate with her outspoken opinions on sensitive social issues.

In a rare moment of reflection, the actress took accountability for some of her actions, acknowledging they were made in a vulnerable state.

On the October 23 episode, Goldberg opened up about saying questionable things while intoxicated during a discussion about Maine political candidate Graham Platner’s skull tattoo, which he got after a night of drinking in 2007.

“When you’re drunk, you tell the truth,” Joy Behar said, referencing Mel Gibson’s 2006 drunken outburst before joking, “When I have a couple of glasses of wine, I don’t start spouting Nazi slogans.”

Her comment prompted Goldberg to reflect on her own experiences with alcohol. “When I was drinking, strange stuff came out of my mouth, yes,” she confessed, according to Entertainment Weekly.

The EGOT winner then elaborated to her fellow panelists, “I can’t tell you that when I used to get drunk, I didn’t do stupid stuff. I know I drank and did stupid stuff, and I took responsibility for it.” She added that she preferred to own up to her past herself rather than have anyone else bring it up. 

Turning to the camera, Goldberg warned the audience that those days are long behind her. “You can’t find anything of me drunk, because I haven’t drank in years,” she shared.

After a commercial break, the 69-year-old actress revisited the topic to clarify her remarks, emphasizing, “People say stupid stuff sometimes when they’re inebriated. I’m not a racist.”

Goldberg’s clarification comes just weeks after she faced backlash over a joke deemed insensitive following reports that ICE officials would be present at the Super Bowl, shortly after Bad Bunny was announced as the headliner.

As The Blast reported, the hosts discussed Kristi Noem’s confirmation of ICE’s planned presence at the game, and Goldberg chimed in, seemingly trying to make light of it. 

She said, “Everybody, get a little cocoa butter, sit in the sun, that’s the first thing. And then, this is probably the only time you can ever do this, give yourself a Latin accent.”

The remark quickly drew criticism online, with many critics arguing it reinforced harmful stereotypes associated with immigrants of Hispanic identity. Some even called on ABC to issue an apology.

In an interview last month, Goldberg was asked if she intended to slow down after so many years of working on the ABC broadcast. 

Laughing, Goldberg replied that she can’t afford to stop working, joking that she “didn’t marry well,” and hinting that her past relationships left her to handle her financial responsibilities on her own.

Goldberg’s Super Bowl comment wasn’t the first time this year she faced heat over remarks about identity. Back in June, she suggested that life for Black people in the U.S. can, at times, be as harsh as living in Iran.

As The Blast reported, in an on-air debate with Alyssa Farah Griffin, Goldberg cited America’s violent history toward marginalized groups and argued that “it’s the same thing” as conditions under Iran’s Supreme Leader. 

Griffin disagreed, emphasizing that in Iran, women risk death for showing their hair or wearing certain clothes.

Goldberg, however, stood by her stance, insisting that violence and discrimination against any group should be condemned everywhere. 

When Griffin reiterated that the U.S. in 2025 couldn’t be compared to Iran’s authoritarian regime, Goldberg pushed back, saying, “Not if you’re Black.”

Before Goldberg admitted to being intoxicated on the show, she had gotten candid about using the weight loss drug Mounjaro and the events that led to it. 

Per The Blast, the “Lion King” star explained that her decision to go on the medication began after developing sciatica, a painful nerve condition caused by a fractured vertebra. The injury happened when she was running on wet grass.

Initially, she didn’t realize how bad the injury was and continued her daily life, only worsening the injury. However, while filming “Till,” she was prescribed steroids to help manage her pain, and the medication led to significant weight gain, pushing her weight to nearly 270 pounds.