Staten Island’s beloved Holtermann’s Bakery has found itself at the center of a political storm after *The View* co-host Whoopi Goldberg falsely accused the family-run business of refusing to serve her due to her liberal politics. The unfounded allegations sparked outrage, but Staten Island’s leaders and locals rallied to defend the 145-year-old institution, turning the smear campaign into a surge of support for the bakery.
The drama began when Goldberg claimed on-air that the bakery had refused to make Charlotte Russe desserts for her 69th birthday celebration, blaming her politics for the alleged slight. “They said that their ovens had gone down, all kinds of stuff,” Goldberg said. “They did not like my politics.”
In reality, the bakery was dealing with mechanical issues, specifically a 60-year-old boiler, and Goldberg’s accusation couldn’t have been further from the truth. Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella held nothing back when defending the Holtermann family during a press conference outside the bakery.
“We’re here to stand up for one of the best families and businesses, not just in Staten Island but in the country,” Fossella declared. “Frankly, the people who defamed the Holtermann family should apologize … for making stuff up to suit their needs. Not everybody wakes up every day and thinks about politics.”
The family-run bakery, known for its welcoming atmosphere and top-notch baked goods, has been inundated with support from across the country since the controversy erupted. Orders have poured in from as far away as Alabama and Tennessee, with customers donating baked goods to schools and first responders to show solidarity.
“I really am overwhelmed,” said owner Jill Holtermann. “I’m so happy to have the support. Just to have people come out and talk and build up my business.”
Some of the donations included $150 worth of donuts sent to a local high school football game, a sheet cake gifted to a firehouse, and cupcakes delivered to a Staten Island elementary school. Meanwhile, lines wrapped around the bakery as loyal customers and newcomers alike flocked to show their appreciation.
“Judging by the line today, I think the one simple message is: You don’t mess with Staten Island,” Fossella quipped.
Goldberg’s claims were part of an apparent trend among *The View* co-hosts, who have been increasingly hostile and dramatic following President-elect Donald Trump’s election victory. Goldberg, who famously refuses to say Trump’s name on-air, used the bakery incident as yet another excuse to stoke division and push her personal political narrative.
But her baseless accusation backfired spectacularly. Rather than tarnish the bakery’s reputation, it galvanized Americans who value hard work and community over partisan mudslinging.
While Goldberg has yet to issue an apology, Staten Island residents made their voices clear: they stand with Holtermann’s Bakery. For a business that has served its community for nearly a century and a half, the incident served as a reminder of the resilience and unity that define Staten Island’s spirit.
In the words of one Staten Island local, “We don’t care about politics when it comes to baked goods—we care about supporting our neighbors and standing up for the truth.”
