Whoopi Goldberg Faces Backlash for Comparing Black US Experience to Iran

Whoopi Goldberg sparked widespread backlash after stating on The View that black Americans face the same level of oppression in the United States as Iranians living under the Islamic Republic's regime. Her comments, made during a heated exchange with co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin who argued that Iran's regime is far worse, were criticized by Iranian dissidents and black Americans alike for downplaying the severe human rights abuses in Iran. Iranian-American journalist Lisa Daftari and Dr. Sheila Nazarian condemned Goldberg's comparison as dismissive of the brutal realities in Iran. Meanwhile, many black Americans on social media accused Goldberg of being out of touch, highlighting her wealth and privileges compared to the lack of freedoms for women and minorities in Iran. TikTok creators criticized her for equating America’s racial struggles with the authoritarian and repressive conditions in Iran, emphasizing the freedoms of speech, religion, and protest available in the U.S. The controversy underscores ongoing debates about race, oppression, and international human rights.