Whoopi Goldberg’s 2025: From On-Air Firestorm to Global Advocate for Women’s Visibility

Whoopi Goldberg has long been more than just a household name. As an EGOT winner, she has navigated decades of work in film, television, theater, literature, and activism with a mix of unapologetic candor and cultural influence. In 2025, she once again proved she can command headlines — not just through her work, but through moments of unfiltered, high-stakes dialogue and groundbreaking initiatives beyond the screen.

This year, Goldberg found herself at the center of two major public conversations: a tense on-air exchange with her The View co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin over human rights and racial injustice, and her ongoing efforts to amplify women’s presence on the global stage through both the Met Gala and the All Women’s Sport Network (AWSN). Together, these stories show how Goldberg operates as both a cultural provocateur and an institutional changemaker — even when the conversations she starts are uncomfortable.

A Heated Exchange on The View

On June 18, 2025, The View aired a segment that quickly moved beyond the day’s talking points into territory that would spark days of debate. The panel began by discussing Israel’s preemptive strikes against Iran, with co-host Sunny Hostin examining the legality under international law.

Alyssa Farah Griffin shifted the conversation toward Iran’s human rights record, specifically its persecution of LGBTQ+ people and its treatment of women, arguing that the U.S. “cannot be equated with Iran’s oppressive regime.”

Goldberg, leaning into the table with visible conviction, interjected: “Not if you’re Black.” Her point: systemic racism and historically entrenched hate-based violence in the U.S. represent an ongoing form of oppression that, while different in method, is deeply damaging in effect.

Griffin countered, pointing out that in Iran in 2025, women face state-enforced dress codes under threat of death and live without free elections. Goldberg responded by invoking America’s history of lynching, racially motivated killings, and the enduring fear many Black Americans live with daily. “There’s no way I can make you understand,” she lamented.

The exchange was fiery but revealing — a clash between two worldviews: one rooted in comparative global analysis, and another steeped in the lived experience of systemic injustice at home.

Public Reaction and Expert Commentary

The reaction was immediate. Iranian-American political scientist Majid Rafizadeh criticized Goldberg’s comparison as “factually incorrect” and potentially dismissive of the brutality Iranians face daily. Others argued that her remarks highlighted the limits of empathy when it comes to understanding oppression outside one’s lived reality.

Media analysts noted how The View once again served as a proxy battleground for larger cultural conversations — this time about whether different forms of injustice can or should be compared, and what responsibilities public figures have when making those comparisons.

Why It Resonated

The viral nature of the moment wasn’t just about disagreement. It was about the framing of oppression, and how context — historical or contemporary — changes the weight of an argument.

Goldberg’s stance underscored:

Historical reflection vs. present oppression – She argued that the U.S.’s own legacy of violence and discrimination demands scrutiny before claiming moral superiority.

Limits of empathy – Griffin’s insistence on Iran’s present-day horrors highlighted how lived experience shapes which injustices feel most urgent.

Role of public platforms – As daytime television reaches millions, The View’s debates are amplified far beyond the studio, influencing public discourse in real time.

Fashion as Statement: Goldberg’s Return to the Met Gala

Just weeks before this clash, Goldberg had made waves of a different kind with a triumphant return to the Met Gala in May 2025 — her first appearance since 2021. She arrived wearing a Thom Browne creation that blurred the line between tuxedo and ball gown: a black duchesse satin dress with suit lapels, paired with a white overcoat embroidered with 350,000 sequins, crafted over 7,700 hours.

The look was capped with statement boots, a top hat with a veil, and custom jewelry. Vogue called it “a masterclass in unapologetic personal style,” while E! News praised its deliberate defiance of red carpet trends.

Goldberg’s presence at the gala reminded fashion watchers that she remains a style disruptor — using couture to signal individuality, confidence, and the power of self-definition, particularly for women in entertainment over 60.

From Runway to Sports Arena: Launching AWSN

Beyond the red carpet, Goldberg has turned her attention to an arena that has historically lacked equal footing: women’s sports. In late 2024, she co-founded the All Women’s Sport Network (AWSN), dedicated to increasing global visibility for female athletes and their competitions.

In mid-2025, AWSN signed a groundbreaking multi-year broadcast deal with Netball Australia, bringing Super Netball matches to over 65 countries and reaching an estimated 900 million viewers by 2027. The deal covers 41 matches per season and marks one of the largest international distribution efforts for a women’s sport in history.

Goldberg explained her motivation simply: “If I couldn’t find these sports, others weren’t finding them either.” The AWSN, she says, is about more than coverage — it’s about equity, representation, and inspiring future generations.

Strategic Influence Across Sectors

Goldberg’s 2025 portfolio shows a deliberate blend of activism and artistry:

Media Platform as Advocacy Tool – Whether sparking debate on The View or attending high-profile events, she uses visibility to spotlight issues of race, representation, and accountability.

Fashion as Cultural Signaling – Her Met Gala look was a statement of individuality, resilience, and refusal to conform to industry expectations.

Sports Media as Equity Work – AWSN isn’t just about sports; it’s about rewriting the commercial and cultural narrative around women in athletics.

What Comes Next

Goldberg’s current trajectory suggests she will continue to court both admiration and controversy. The June 18 exchange on The View proved she’s unwilling to soften her perspective for the sake of consensus. Her return to the Met Gala demonstrated her continued relevance in the style world. And AWSN signals a commitment to leaving an infrastructure of representation behind her — not just memories of moments on-screen.

As debates over human rights, representation, and equity intensify globally, Goldberg’s role in them remains complex: she is at once a provocateur, a mentor, a disruptor, and a builder.

Final Takeaway: In 2025, Whoopi Goldberg isn’t simply reacting to the culture around her — she’s shaping it. Whether igniting contentious debates about oppression, walking a red carpet in a sequin-covered statement of selfhood, or rewriting the business model for women’s sports, she remains a force whose influence extends far beyond the television frame.