On her 69th birthday, Whoopi Goldberg took a sweet stroll down memory lane, reminiscing about her mother’s favorite dessert, the classic New York Charlotte Russe. But the festive moment on “The View” quickly turned sour as Goldberg alleged that a bakery refused her order because of her political views. It wasn’t long, however, before the bakery in question hit back, setting the record straight.
Goldberg, flanked by co-hosts Sunny Hostin, Alyssa Farah Griffin, Joy Behar, and Sara Haines, shared her nostalgic treat with the audience, a gesture meant to honor her late mother’s love for Charlotte Russe. But amid the celebratory chatter, Goldberg dropped a surprising accusation. Without naming the establishment, she claimed the bakery had declined her order due to her “left-leaning” politics, sparking reactions of shock from her co-hosts and the audience alike.
“Now, I should tell you, Charlotte Russe has no political leanings,” Goldberg quipped. “The place that made these refused to make them for me,” she continued, hinting that the bakery’s supposed refusal wasn’t about gender, but purely about politics. According to Goldberg, the bakery had cited broken ovens and other issues, but she wasn’t buying it.
Despite Goldberg’s choice not to reveal the bakery’s name, media quickly identified it as Holtermann’s Bakery, a 145-year-old Staten Island establishment beloved by locals for its classic New York flavors and old-world charm. Holtermann’s owner, Jill Holtermann, wasted no time in addressing the accusations, refuting Goldberg’s claims and clarifying the situation.
“It was not because of political reasons,” Holtermann told *Entertainment Weekly*, firmly dispelling the rumor. According to Holtermann, the decision to initially decline Goldberg’s request was due to equipment issues. “We were having trouble with our boilers,” she explained, adding that the bakery’s building dates back to 1930, so breakdowns are part of its charm—and its challenge. Holtermann recalled telling Goldberg, “I can’t do it right now. We have so many things going on with my boiler,” explaining she didn’t want to overpromise on orders if the equipment issues couldn’t be resolved in time.
Holtermann’s team ultimately fulfilled the order, preparing 50 of the treats, which were picked up bright and early on the morning of Goldberg’s birthday celebration. She emphasized that her bakery, with deep roots in the Staten Island community, doesn’t base its service on anyone’s political affiliations. “The error had nothing to do with Goldberg’s politics,” she confirmed.
Goldberg, known for her outspoken opposition to President-elect Donald Trump—whom she has famously refused to name on-air—remains undeterred in her views. This incident, however, highlights a trend of turning everyday interactions into politically charged disputes, even when the reasons are far more practical.
