During a heated segment on The View aired June 18, 2025, co-host Whoopi Goldberg drew strong reactions after stating that life in the United States is “the same” as life under Iran’s authoritarian regime.
The comment was made during a political debate with co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin.
Goldberg, 69, argued that racial injustice and violence in the U.S. are comparable to Iran’s brutal human rights abuses. “We have been known in this country to tie gay folks to the car... They used to just keep hanging Black people,” she said, claiming it equated to government-backed violence in Iran.
Griffin, a conservative commentator, immediately rejected the comparison, citing Iran’s strict dress codes, lack of free elections, and the threat of execution for minor offenses like not wearing a hijab. “It’s not even the same universe,” she insisted, pointing out that her current outfit would be illegal in Tehran.
Despite acknowledging that the U.S. is “the greatest country in the world,” Goldberg emphasized the daily fear many Black Americans live with. “Every day we are worried... Are our kids gonna get shot because they’re running through somebody’s neighborhood?”
The debate intensified as Goldberg stated Griffin would never fully understand the Black American experience. Joy Behar attempted to mediate, urging Griffin to empathize with those who feel marginalized in the U.S.
The clash comes amid increased global scrutiny on Iran, following its ongoing conflict with Israel and controversial nuclear advancements. The segment ended unresolved, with Goldberg saying the topic would be revisited in a future episode.
Women in Iran are beaten, raped, and killed for showing their hair
— Arynne Wexler (@ArynneWexler) June 18, 2025
So here’s Whoopi Goldberg equating her life as a multimillionaire celebrity in America to that pic.twitter.com/Sm1nLQq3YT
Women in Iran face brutal violence… beatings, rape, and death for simply showing their hair.
— Angela Belcamino (@AngelaBelcamino) June 18, 2025
Yet, Whoopi Goldberg, a multimillionaire celebrity in America, compares her life to theirs.
Life in the United States as a woman is not the same as it is in Iran.
Can we all agree? pic.twitter.com/dAzJjuv0MX
Whoopi Goldberg has a disgusting view on the Iranian regime, claiming that it's "no different" than America.
— Hen Mazzig (@HenMazzig) June 18, 2025
The police are murdering women for not covering all of their hair. They are raping the people who protest the regime. They are refusing to let minority groups like the… pic.twitter.com/XiIlr5bp3V
"Iranians throw gay people off buildings."
— Gays For Trump (@GaysForTrump24) June 18, 2025
Whoopi Goldberg - "Let's not do that."
Do what TELL THE TRUTH? 🙄pic.twitter.com/og8j32u99E
The exchange has reignited debates on systemic racism in America and comparisons to international regimes, sparking backlash and support across social media.
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