Iran or America? The View’s Whoopi Says It’s All the Same If You’re Black or Gay [WATCH]

During a heated segment on ABC’s The View, co-host Whoopi Goldberg compared the human rights conditions in Iran to the experience of being Black or gay in the United States, triggering backlash and stunned reactions from her fellow panelists, as reported by The Western Journal.

The discussion began with a debate over the escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, prompted by a recent exchange between Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) and commentator Tucker Carlson regarding U.S. foreign policy and the risks of regime change in Tehran.

Image Credit: Screenshot, YouTube / The View

Co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin, who served in the Trump administration, emphasized Iran’s extensive record of human rights violations, including the public execution of gay individuals.

Trump’s Sovereign Wealth Fund: What Could It Mean For Your Money?

“They don’t adhere to basic human rights or international law,” she said.

“Let’s remember too, the Iranians literally throw gay people off of buildings.”

Goldberg responded by cautioning against drawing contrasts. “Let’s not do that! Let’s not do that,” she said. “Because if we start with that — we’ve been known in this country to tie gay folks to the car!”

Goldberg continued, referencing the United States’ history of racial violence:

“They used to just keep hanging Black people!”

This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year

Griffin pushed back, arguing that conditions in the U.S. are not comparable to Iran’s current regime.

“I’m sorry, but where the Iranian regime is today is nothing compared to the United States.”

Panelist Sunny Hostin interjected, saying, “Not for everybody,” while Goldberg reiterated, “Not if you’re Black!”

Goldberg’s remarks appear to conflate separate historical incidents, including the murder of James Byrd Jr. in Texas in 1998 and the case of Matthew Shepard, a gay college student whose death, initially labeled a hate crime, is now believed by some investigators to have stemmed from a drug-related robbery.

The debate on The View also touched on the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement, which Hostin credited to former President Barack Obama. “President Obama, one of his foreign policy wins was that he had an agreement with Iran,” she said.

The agreement, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was terminated in 2018 by President Donald Trump, who argued that it failed to meaningfully curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

As the panel continued, Griffin highlighted that her clothing and the dress of the other panelists would not be permitted in Iran, noting the recent protests sparked by the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini, a young woman detained by Iran’s morality police for improperly wearing a headscarf.

That incident led to widespread unrest and a government crackdown that resulted in over 500 deaths.

Despite these facts, Goldberg insisted there was no meaningful difference between life under Iran’s authoritarian regime and the experience of Black Americans in 2025.

“It is the same,” she said.

The exchange went viral online, drawing criticism from viewers who pointed to the stark contrast between the Iranian government’s record of executions, censorship, and violent suppression of protests and the constitutional protections afforded to American citizens.

As of Thursday, ABC had not issued a statement regarding Goldberg’s comments.

Connect with Vetted Off-Duty Cops to Instantly Fulfill Your Security Needs

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of LifeZette. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.