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Whoopi Goldberg sparked controversy on The View on January 13, 2025, by defending Governor Gavin Newsom, claiming the L.A. fires were "nobody's fault" but it was "mother nature." Critics online slammed her, with one asking, “Does she ever listen to what comes out of her mouth?”
At least 24 people have died, almost 200,000 have been homeless, and 39,000 acres have burned as a result of the flames, which started last week in Southern California. On the show The View, Goldberg stressed that the disaster was “nobody’s fault" and also urged the people to stop "pointing fingers." Goldberg said:
“There was a fire catastrophe in California. It had to do with winds — the winds move things and sparks move things.”
The actress has lived in California and had first-hand experience with wildfires, saying she was frustrated with the blame game. She went on to say:
“Having lived in California, having lost every house save for one that we ever lived in, I take great offense at pointing fingers. You should be pointing fingers about, how can we help? It’s too soon to be saying, ‘Oh, it’s Gavin’s fault.’ It’s nobody’s fault.”
She went on to add:
“Mother Nature doesn’t give a damn what we want. She does what she does, and if you’re in the way, this is what happens. Nobody was prepared for this. And you couldn’t have been prepared for it because what mind could ever think that 75 hundred-thousand buildings were going to burn at the same time?”
A clip from The View where Goldberg was defending Gavin Newsom:
To which the internet slammed her statements, with one user commenting:
The comment shows the user's frustration at Goldberg's statement.
Other users chimed in. The comment section reflected widespread frustration and skepticism about the show and California's wildfire management. Some users directed their anger at Whoopi Goldberg's statements. One remarked:
"How this show is even on the air will never cease to amaze.."
Another user expressed this view and added:
"Why is this show still on? It’s REALLY painful to even see snippets of these narcissistic, bombastic, self-aggrandizing women pretending to be experts on everything."
Both the comments showed frustration and disdain for the show's relevance.
While other users shifted their blame to the California administration, questioning the people at the top. One user held the Government responsible for the wildfire management issue. The user stated:
"The person responsible is gov. Newscum and Mayor Bass. Until California realize that they will keep getting what they get. Get Newscum out!!!!!"
Another user joined in on this, specifically blaming Governor Gavin Newsom:
"Most ill informed group of people on television! Gavin Newsom was WARNED 5 YEARS ago.. by the Trump administration.. to get off their a*s and do the necessary Forrest management work that protects cities!! Newsom REFUSED!! He is absolutely responsible for the severity of this.. absolutely!!"
While other users expressed outright rejection of Goldberg's opinion, a user commented,
"No thanks. All ready full on garbage today. Don't need any of Whoopis"
While another user commented:
"The way Whoopi and the rest of these idiots lie and spread disinformation is despicable!! Whoopi is a Nasty Evil Woman. How does she and the rest of them morons live with themselves?"
The internet argued that while natural forces like wind worsened the fires, human factors like poor resource management and inadequate emergency response were equally significant. Some saw Whoopi Goldberg's statements defending Gavin Newsom and other authorities as a dismissal of valid concerns regarding accountability during a crisis such as the fires.
More about the L.A. Wildfires
At least 24 people have died as a result of the L.A. fires. As of Monday, 39,000 acres of land have been burned down, and nearly 200,000 others have been displaced. Multiple celebrities have been affected by the wildfires. Whoopi Goldberg herself claimed that her neighborhood was destroyed.
President-elect Donald Trump blames Newsom for the current crisis and Newsom's leadership for the lack of water to help firefighters. This is what Trump wrote to address the situation:
"Governor Gavin Newscum refused to sign the water restoration declaration put before him that would have allowed millions of gallons of water, from excess rain and snow melt from the North, to flow daily into many parts of California, including the areas that are currently burning in a virtually apocalyptic way."
He went on to say:
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"Now the ultimate price is being paid. I will demand that this incompetent governor allow beautiful, clean, fresh water to FLOW INTO CALIFORNIA! He is the blame for this. On top of it all, no water for fire hydrants, not firefighting planes. A true disaster!"
This isn't the first time. Trump clashed with L.A. authorities in 2018 over wildfire management.
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