Television host Bill Maher has called for Democratic Party action against “The View” following controversial comments made by co-host Whoopi Goldberg comparing life for Black Americans to conditions in Iran. The criticism came during Maher’s Friday evening, June 20, broadcast of “Real Time,” where he suggested Democrats need to “do something” about the popular daytime talk show.
The controversy began Wednesday, June 18, during a heated discussion on “The View” between Goldberg and co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin regarding potential U.S. military action against Iran. Griffin outlined Iran’s human rights violations, including executions of gay people and imprisonment of women who appear in public without head coverings.
Goldberg pushed back against Griffin’s characterization, stating that America has historically engaged in similar oppression. When Griffin argued that living in the United States in 2025 differs significantly from living under Iran’s theocratic regime, Goldberg responded that the comparison was valid for Black Americans. Griffin attempted to clarify that while acknowledging America’s problems, Iran represents a much darker situation than the United States.
During his Friday broadcast, Maher initially praised what he characterized as Democrats returning to sanity, citing a recent New York Times editorial taking a more measured liberal position on transgender issues. He then turned his attention to “The View,” suggesting the show required similar reform. Texas Representative Wesley Hunt, appearing as a guest on Maher’s program, strongly disagreed with Goldberg’s assessment.
Hunt detailed his personal background as evidence of American progress, noting he represents a majority-white district in Texas that President Donald Trump carried by 25 points. He described himself as a direct descendant of a slave whose great-great-grandfather was born on Rosedown Plantation. Hunt emphasized that his electoral success demonstrated he was being judged by character rather than skin color.
The congressman noted that many white voters supported his candidacy and rejected Goldberg’s characterization of Black American experiences. He highlighted his father’s journey from growing up under Jim Crow laws to becoming the parent of a U.S. congressman elected in a majority-white district as a Republican, describing this as representative of America’s progress.
Fox News anchor Harris Faulkner called Goldberg’s comparison “asinine” during Thursday’s broadcast, noting that successful Black individuals demonstrate progress beyond historical periods of Jim Crow and slavery.
Iranian dissidents have also criticized Goldberg’s comparison as offensive and inaccurate. Dr. Sheila Nazarian, whose family fled Iran in 1985 when she was six after her father was placed on a government kill list, described Goldberg’s statements as deeply misguided and dismissive of Iranian suffering. Nazarian explained that Iran’s government controls nearly every aspect of life, with citizens facing imprisonment, torture, or execution for peaceful protests or online criticism.
The criticism extended beyond television personalities and political figures. Multiple Black Americans on social media platforms challenged Goldberg’s comparison, with several content creators posting video responses. TikTok user Key questioned how a multi-millionaire Black woman appearing on national television could equate her experience with women in Iran who face imprisonment or death for basic freedoms.
Another social media creator, Bigswol, accused Goldberg of spreading false victimhood while enjoying unprecedented privileges. The Cartier Family, a group of YouTubers, produced a viral reaction video criticizing Goldberg’s perspective, with host Brandon Rhone stating: “She up $60 million talking about her life hard because she black.”
Tesla and X owner Elon Musk also responded to the controversy, replying with a 100 percent emoji to a social media post criticizing Goldberg’s comments.
The timing of the controversy coincided with tensions between the United States and Iran, as well as Goldberg’s temporary absence from “The View.” Joy Behar announced Monday that Goldberg was in Italy accepting an award for her book “Bits and Pieces” at the Taobuk Taormina International Book Festival. Goldberg will remain absent from the show this week, with “The View” scheduled to begin its summer hiatus June 30 before returning with new episodes in July.
Iran operates under what the U.S. State Department describes as an authoritarian theocratic republic governed by strict Shia Islamist laws. The country experienced widespread protests in 2022 following the death of Mahsa Amini, who died in custody of Iran’s morality police after being arrested for refusing to wear a hijab. The government’s lethal response to these protests resulted in more than 500 deaths.
