Whoopi Goldberg’s Birthday Treat Turns Bitter Amid Bakery Controversy
Whoopi Goldberg’s 69th birthday celebrations on The View took a surprising turn when she revealed that a bakery initially refused to fulfill her birthday dessert order, speculating that it might be due to her political views. The incident occurred during the live show on Wednesday, Nov. 13, where Goldberg shared her frustration with the audience.
The TV personality had requested Charlotte Russe — a dessert close to her heart, as it was her mother’s favorite growing up. The treat, consisting of layers of sponge cake, Bavarian cream, and fruit, was central to the birthday celebration on The View. However, Goldberg claimed that the bakery initially refused to take her order, citing reasons that she felt were less than genuine.
She suggested that the refusal was potentially due to her political stance, though she stopped short of naming the bakery. Entertainment Weekly later identified the bakery as Holtermann’s Bakery, based in Staten Island.
“Charlotte Russe has no political leanings, and the place that made these refused to make them for me,” Goldberg said, which elicited audible gasps from the audience. She further explained that the bakery cited issues with its ovens, but that her team managed to pick up the desserts anyway. “It can’t be because I’m a woman, but perhaps they did not like my politics,” Goldberg speculated, hinting at a possible reason behind the rejection.
Her co-hosts, including Sunny Hostin and Sara Haines, reacted strongly, with Haines even spitting out her bite in surprise. Despite the drama, Goldberg kept the focus on her birthday and her late mother’s legacy, thanking her audience for celebrating with her.
However, Holtermann’s Bakery owner, Jill Holtermann, quickly denied that political factors played any role in the decision. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, she clarified that the refusal to accept the order was due to technical difficulties with their boilers. “We were having trouble with our boilers,” Holtermann explained. “The building is from 1930, so I didn’t want to make a commitment I couldn’t follow through on.”
Holtermann confirmed that Goldberg’s request had initially been for a Nov. 6 appearance and her birthday celebration on Nov. 13. She had turned down the request due to the bakery’s struggles with the equipment, but later agreed to make the desserts when the situation improved. A woman, whom Holtermann did not recognize as affiliated with Goldberg or The View, picked up approximately 50 Charlotte Russe desserts the morning of Goldberg’s birthday celebration.
Despite the clarification, the incident drew attention to how personal beliefs might influence business relationships, with Goldberg adding a note of humor to the situation. “It’s my mother’s celebration, so I’m just grateful to have the desserts and celebrate with all of you.”
