Whoopi Goldberg had little patience for yet another round of pop culture virtue-signaling on Tuesday’s episode of *The View*. The 69-year-old co-host visibly checked out—literally pretending to fall asleep—during a discussion of a viral *Wicked* interview that sent the show’s more “progressive” panelists into a tizzy.
The segment began with Goldberg introducing the topic of *Wicked* stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s emotional reaction to a fan’s interpretation of the musical’s hit song “Defying Gravity.” During their press tour, journalist Tracy E. Gilchrist told the actresses that fans were “holding space” with the lyrics, prompting Erivo to tear up and Grande to comfort her by holding her finger.
Goldberg, clearly unimpressed, quipped, “Apparently, this has struck a chord with people. Why? I don’t know.” As the conversation unfolded, she rested her chin on her palm, feigning deep sleep—a move that quickly became the highlight of the segment for many viewers.
Meanwhile, co-hosts Sunny Hostin and Alyssa Farah Griffin gamely tried to reenact the finger-holding moment to laughter from the audience. Joy Behar, ever the skeptic, chimed in to ask the obvious: “What does holding space mean?”
Hostin attempted to explain, citing *Psychology Today*, and described it as “the practice of making space for somebody else’s experience and centering them” to foster empathy. Behar, never one to miss a chance for a political jab, asked with a smirk, “Am I supposed to hold space for Trump supporters now?”
Farah Griffin joked about the “perfectly unhinged” nature of the *Wicked* press tour, but the panel couldn’t ignore Goldberg’s ongoing mock slumber. Behar pointed out Goldberg’s nodding off, prompting Hostin to declare, “She’s holding space for her self-care!”
As Goldberg “woke up,” she smiled and sent the show to a commercial break, clearly over the sanctimonious chatter.
The source of the meme-worthy discussion, journalist Tracy E. Gilchrist, has since faced online mockery for coining the vague phrase “holding space” in this context. She later defended herself in an interview with *Variety*, tying her comments to the broader sociopolitical landscape and claiming inspiration from GLAAD’s Tony Morrison.
For Gilchrist, “holding space” is about “being physically, emotionally, and mentally present” and finding new meaning in familiar art. She explained how lyrics like “I’m through accepting limits” resonate for marginalized communities under what she characterized as a hostile political climate.
But many Americans see this as yet another example of Hollywood and its media cheerleaders manufacturing drama where none exists, twisting a Broadway musical into a platform for progressive talking points. Goldberg’s visible exasperation with the segment reflects the growing frustration among viewers who feel inundated with performative wokeness disguised as entertainment.
As Hollywood continues to push increasingly out-of-touch narratives, Goldberg’s mock nap may be the most relatable thing to happen on *The View* in years. For those weary of virtue-signaling overreach, her act of self-care was a breath of fresh air.
