In the latest display of selective outrage, Whoopi Goldberg, co-host of *The View*, is facing criticism from conservative voices over her handling of a joke made at a recent Trump rally. Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, a popular comic from Austin, Texas, sparked controversy after he joked about Puerto Rico being a “floating island of garbage.” His quip, apparently aimed at the island’s environmental struggles, didn’t sit well with some, who took offense and quickly launched a firestorm of backlash on social media.
On *The View*, Goldberg wasted no time weighing in, eagerly using the moment to paint Hinchcliffe’s joke as representative of Trump’s supposed view of Puerto Ricans. “A spokesperson said the joke was in poor taste and did not reflect the campaign’s or, you know, whose views. This should not come as a surprise to anyone,” Goldberg declared to the audience. “It’s just really clear, and now you see it, and all those people sitting in that audience—now you know how he thinks about you.”
However, critics were quick to call Goldberg’s stance hypocritical, pointing out her selective application of outrage when it comes to political leaders’ comments. Just last month, President Biden made waves himself by deriding Trump supporters, labeling nearly half the country as “garbage.” This inflammatory statement prompted swift backlash across the political spectrum. But in Biden’s case, Goldberg chose to defend the President, downplaying his words as a simple “tongue slip” and accusing critics of overreacting.
When Biden initially made his disparaging comment, he said, “Just the other day, a speaker at his rally called Puerto Rico floating out of garbage. Well, let me tell you something. I don’t know… the Puerto Ricans that I know, or Puerto Rico, where I’m in my home state of Delaware, they’re good, decent, honorable people. The only garbage I see floating out there is just supporters.” This unfiltered statement quickly went viral, with many expressing shock at the divisive language used by a sitting president. Yet, Goldberg dismissed concerns as mere pearl-clutching, pointing to Biden’s follow-up clarification that he was “actually referring to hateful rhetoric” and not directly calling out Americans as garbage. She called this an “obvious clarification,” ridiculing Republicans for “making something out of a tongue slip.”
Libs of TikTok, a conservative-leaning social media account, shared a clip of Goldberg’s defense, writing, “DNC operative Whoopi Goldberg had a meltdown over a comedian’s joke about Puerto Rico. You would think she would be equally, if not more alarmed at the President calling half the country garbage, right? Wrong. She says Republicans are ‘clutching their pearls’ and justifies Biden’s comment. Seems hypocritical!”
Conservative voices online pointed out that the reaction from Goldberg was not only hypocritical but was also based on a misinterpretation of the original joke. As one user wrote, “The outrage from the left is based on ignorance. The reference to Puerto Rico and garbage is actually related to the huge garbage disposal problem they have on the island. It’s like New York and barges of garbage in the 70s. He wasn’t suggesting the PR residents were garbage.”
For many Americans, it’s moments like these that reveal the double standards in Hollywood and mainstream media. When Trump supporters are maligned or insulted, the response from liberal elites is often tepid, if not supportive. Yet, when even the slightest perceived slight is directed at the left, figures like Goldberg are quick to call for accountability, ignoring any nuances or explanations.
Goldberg’s reaction to Hinchcliffe’s joke is the latest in a long line of examples of left-leaning media personalities who are willing to overlook harmful rhetoric from their own side. This selective outrage, conservatives argue, is part of a larger problem of hypocrisy and double standards that has only worsened in recent years.
As the dust settles from this latest controversy, it’s clear that Goldberg’s credibility with conservative viewers has once again taken a hit. Her dismissal of Biden’s comments as a simple “tongue slip,” while attacking a comedian’s off-hand joke, serves as a reminder to conservatives of the deeply ingrained bias present in much of today’s mainstream media. For those hoping for balanced commentary, it’s another disappointment. And as long as figures like Goldberg continue to choose partisanship over principle, the divide will only deepen.
