In the latest episode of misguided celebrity commentary, Whoopi Goldberg seems to have outdone herself. This time, she’s made the head-scratching assertion that Black Americans supposedly have it worse than women in Iran. It’s a bold statement that’s left many shaking their heads, wondering if Whoopi has ever done so much as a cursory Google search on the plight of women under Iran’s notoriously oppressive regime.
To set the scene, let’s remember that, in Iran, human rights violations are more a feature than a bug. People can be punished severely for what might be considered everyday freedoms in the United States. And while America has its undeniable history of racial injustices, equating historic or even current racial tensions here to the systemic brutalities faced in Iran is like comparing apples to space shuttles – they just don’t match.
It seems Whoopi is embroiled in the delusional belief that collecting audience applause is the same as winning a debate. When the crowd clapped in agreement, it wasn’t necessarily because they shared her point of view, but perhaps more likely because someone flipped on the “APPLAUSE” sign like it was a game show. Yet, she charged ahead, arms flailing and facts floundering.
Even when Alyssa, a fellow panelist who presumably knows her way around a sensible argument, disagreed, Whoopi dug her heels in. It’s as though Whoopi forgot she was in a country where, compared to many others, she enjoys incredible freedom and opportunities. Just because one feels a certain way doesn’t make it reality. If feelings alone were reality’s architects, then every celebrity disagreement would become some sort of terrifying new truth.
The crux of the issue might be that today’s culture often mistakes feelings for facts, a lesson Whoopi demonstrated to a T. Feelings are important; they help us empathize and connect. However, acting as if they define reality is like suggesting a thermometer can control the weather. There’s a reason facts matter, and Whoopi might want to reacquaint herself with that reasoning – perhaps before making any more questionable analogies.
In the grandest twist of irony, one must admire the freedoms Whoopi has to say these baffling things without consequence. In another country, such expressions might not only be frowned upon but could result in harsh repercussions. And that’s exactly the kind of freedom she may be taking for granted, without even realizing the luxury of her televised platform. But fear not, America, for Whoopi will likely get another chance to clarify her muddled messages, whether or not she chooses to straighten them out.
