Whoopi Goldberg is catching heat on social media after her comments about Tiger Woods‘ headline-making arrest. The 50-year-old golfer recently announced he was seeking treatment after his rollover crash in Jupiter Island, Florida.
Woods, who has since pled not guilty has been a topic of discussion since March 27, and The View co-hosts, Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, Sara Haines, and guest panelist Whitney Cummings, touched on the situation.
Goldberg has a personal connection to Woods, explaining, “You know, Tiger is a friend of mine.” “I wish him nothing but the best,” she continued. “I don’t like kicking a man when he’s down.”
© GettyBehar shared her opinion, saying, “He’s very rich. Just get a driver.” She went on to quip, “Just not Justin Timberlake.” The 83-year-old is, of course, referencing Timberlake’s own June 2024 arrest for driving while ability impaired (DWAI) in Sag Harbor, New York.
The group continued, with Hostin noting that Woods told investigators about the prescription drugs and his “seven back surgeries and over 20 operations on his leg, and that he is living with severe chronic pain.” “That’s terrible, but why can’t he get a driver?” Behad asked again, confused.
The discourse made The Color Purple star speak up for Woods once again with a somewhat bizarre excuse, “I’ll tell you why,” she said. “It’s nice to have a driver, but also you don’t want to be that guy that everyone says, well, why is he always being driven around?’ You can’t win. You can’t win.”
© HandoutConsidering celebrities have drivers at their disposal – and given Woods’ history of car accidents – many viewers weren’t convinced by the explanation and didn’t hold back online.
“WHOOPI GOLDBERG, YOU DROPPED THE BALL THIS TIME. THAT HE IS YOUR FRIEND AND THAT DUMMIES WILL SAY IT IS ELITIST TO HAVE A CHAUFFEUR DOES NOT EXCUSE TIGER WOODS. IF YOU ARE HIS FRIEND THEN TELL HIM TO STOP DRIVING AND GET TREATMENT BEFORE HE KILLS SOMEONE, GOSH DANG IT!!!!!” one person wrote on X.
Another echoed that frustration, calling out what they saw as a pattern of excusing behavior: “Whoopi, stop making excuses for grown a** men! ‘Because I know him’ means nothing! Tiger has problems, just like Timberlake and Britney Spears!”
Others took issue with the argument against having a driver altogether. “Whoopi, I disagree with you on Tiger Woods. Joy Behar said he should get a driver, but you said you would tell us why not. You went on to say, because you don’t want to be that guy… That is bullshit! Stop justifying,” one viewer wrote.
Some reactions also called out multiple cohosts, expressing disappointment in how the conversation was handled. “Sunny & Whoopi really disappointed me today. There is no excuse, no excuse for Tiger Woods or anyone else, especially of his status, to be driving drunk. Either seek help or find a driver,” one post read.
That same commenter pushed the point even further, adding, “If Tiger plowed into YOUR families while driving under the influence, Sunny & Whoopi, would you still defend him? BULLSHIT! Is he embarrassed to get a driver? Too freaking bad! I have zero tolerance for anyone who puts the rest of us at risk by driving impaired.”
Another viewer doubled down on that sentiment, writing, “Whoopi, stop making excuses for grown azz men! ‘Because I know him’ means nothing! Tiger has problems, just like Timberlake and Britney Spears! I don’t care about their personal problems. There’s no excuse for them driving a vehicle impaired or recklessly!”
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