A group of local officials is demanding an apology from The View cohost Whoopi Goldberg after she claimed that a New York City bakery refused to fill her order because of her political views.
The incident occurred during a recent episode of The View, where Goldberg, celebrating her 69th birthday, shared a tray of Charlotte Russe with her cohosts.
While offering the treats, Goldberg implied that the bakery turned her away due to her progressive political leanings, stating that the establishment had cited oven issues as the reason for its refusal, but that others had successfully obtained the treats.
However, the bakery, Holtermann’s, a family-owned business in Staten Island that has been operating for 146 years, is pushing back against these claims. The bakery’s owner, Jill Holtermann, explained that the bakery had been unable to take pre-orders at the time due to ongoing issues with its old boiler.
She confirmed that a representative from The View had inquired about placing a large order but was told that they could not accommodate it at that time. A plumber recently confirmed that the boiler had been replaced, supporting the bakery’s reasoning for declining the request.
New York City officials, including Councilman David Carr and Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella, gathered for a press conference demanding an apology. They emphasized that the bakery’s decision was purely based on operational difficulties, not politics. “Staten Islanders do not serve people according to their political backgrounds,” Carr said.
The controversy also sparked public reactions, with some drivers passing the bakery on Friday yelling in support of the business, while others voiced their frustrations with Goldberg’s comments. This incident highlights a larger issue of how local businesses can become embroiled in political discourse, and the need for clarity in such accusations.
Goldberg, who did not reveal the bakery’s name on air, has yet to publicly respond to the call for an apology from the bakery and local officials.
