Whoopi Goldberg tore into DeRay McKesson on Wednesday’s episode of “The View” over the prominent Black Lives Matter activists tweets criticizing the movie “War for the Planet of the Apes.”
In two now-deleted tweets, McKesson seemed to suggest that the filmmakers were attempting to invoke his image by dressing one of the apes in the movie in a blue jacket. McKesson has become known for dressing in a blue vest.
“Given the history of rendering black people as apes, I’m offended & appalled by the lack of consciousness in Hollywood,” the civil rights activist wrote in the tweets, which were displayed on the ABC daytime talk show. “In associating black people with apes, active work is being done to perpetuate the dehumanization of black people in mass media.”
“DeRay, you need to go back and watch the 1968 original and check out what the apes were wearing,” Goldberg said, referencing the 1968 film “Planet of the Apes,” which depicted the apes in similar blue jackets. “This has nothing to do with you. This was a movie about what happens when mankind doesn’t pay attention to environment, to how we treat animals and each other. That’s what that movie was about. And at the end of the movie, when they’re riding around and you realize it’s here, that’s what the movie was about. Get over yourself!”
Goldberg’s co-host Sunny Hostin attempted to defend McKesson, suggesting that the tweets could have been describing something else. “I know DeRay. I think he’s done incredible work as a social activist. I’m still confused as to what his tweets actually meant,” she said. “Is it possible that he perhaps meant something else?”
“Does he not speak English?” Goldberg responded. “He wrote what he meant. It has nothing to do with him. It has nothing to do with black people, it has nothing to do with any of this. Quit trying to do that. You’re doing great stuff, don’t screw it up by doing something dumb.”
McKesson responded to Goldberg via Twitter, tagging Goldberg in a tweet. “If you have something to say, I’m here,” he wrote.
“Now, with the #PlanetOfTheApes poster & toy, I was contacted by folks within Hollywood who thought there was an issue, hence those tweets,” he continued. “After speaking with even more people about the history of the film, I deleted the tweets.”
9 Outrageous Whoopi Goldberg Moments on 'The View' (Videos)
Defending Bill Cosby
When actress Barbara Bowman came forward in 2014 accusing Bill Cosby of rape, Goldberg expressed skepticism and came to his defense. "I’m going to reserve my judgments because I have a lot of questions,” she said.
Clash with Carly Fiorina
When 2016 presidential candidate Carly Fiorina appeared on “The View” after calling the hosts out for making fun of her looks, Goldberg accused her of manufacturing a “fake feud” to raise her own profile. Fiorina quickly shot back that the show was doing the same by promoting the highly anticipated interview.
Walk-off
In 2010, when “The View” played host to Fox News star Bill O’Reilly, Goldberg and co-host Joy Behar famously walked off the show. The conversation erupted into a shouting match when O’Reilly said, “Muslims killed us on 9/11.” Behar said she couldn’t sit next to O’Reilly because she was so “outraged,” and was joined in her walk-off by Goldberg.
Arguing racism with Rosie O’Donnell
When Rosie O’Donnell returned to “The View” in 2014, rumors swirled about tension between the two comics. One of their frequent on-air clashes came in December when Goldberg told O’Donnell she can’t understand racism as a white woman. “Listen, you are a white lady telling me what is racist to you, which is fine,” said a heated Goldberg, but she was adamant that only someone who has experienced it first-hand knows what racism is.
“No, honey, I’m famous”
After an awkward interview with cranky actress-model Cara Delevingne went viral, the hosts of “The View” chastised the starlet for being a “bitch,” and told her to suck it up. Goldberg argued that as a “newbie” who isn’t a famous actress, Delevingne has no right to act like a diva. And when co-host Michelle Collins interjected to say that Delevingne is someone famous, Goldberg informed her: “No, honey, I'm famous.”
Donald Trump
Goldberg clashed with Donald Trump long before he was a serious presidential candidate. In 2011, Goldberg accused the real estate mogul of racism when he demanded to see President Barack Obama’s birth certificate, saying he’d never ask that of a white president. “I think that’s the biggest pile of dog mess I’ve heard in ages,” said Goldberg when Trump assured her it had nothing to do with race.
It’s OK for men to hit women … sometimes
When video surfaced of NFL player Ray Rice assaulting his wife, leading to widespread condemnation, Goldberg offered defense. “If you hit somebody, you cannot be sure you’re not going to be hit back,” she said to strong disagreement from her co-hosts.
Ann Coulter
Not one to shy away from a debate around race, Goldberg went head-to-head with conservative author Ann Coulter when she appeared on “The View” to argue that liberals don’t care about black people. “Please stop,” Goldberg told Coulter. “If you’re going to talk about race, at least know what you’re talking about.”
Lecturing Candace Cameron Bure on abortion
The conservative star of Netflix’s “Fuller House,” Candace Cameron Bure caught flak when she backed the defunding of Planned Parenthood. “It used to be all about the hanger,” Goldberg said. “And in the old days, the reason abortion became legal, just in case folks don’t remember, is because people got tired of tripping over women who gave themselves abortions in the bathroom, you know, or went to people who gave them Clorox to drink.”
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With reports that the star may exit the ABC daytime talker, TheWrap looks back at her most memorable moments
Defending Bill Cosby
When actress Barbara Bowman came forward in 2014 accusing Bill Cosby of rape, Goldberg expressed skepticism and came to his defense. "I’m going to reserve my judgments because I have a lot of questions,” she said.
