Whoopi Goldberg Says She Told Barbara Walters “Go Ahead” and Use the N-Word on ‘The View’: “See What Happens”

Whoopi Goldberg revealed what she would tell Barbara Walters — the late former co-host and creator of The View — when she would ask about using the N-word during today’s episode of the daytime talk show.

The convo was sparked by a Hot Topics segment that discussed a Missouri geometry teacher who used the racial slur in his classroom, which ultimately resulted in his resignation.

“We used to have this conversation every couple of months on this show, because Barbara would pose that same question: ‘Well, why can’t I say it?’ I said, ‘Well, go ahead and do it. See what happens,'” Goldberg recalled to the panel.

Back in 2011, Walters — who died in December 2022 at the age of 93 — was discussing Rick Perry’s hunting camp, which used the word in its unofficial name. She ended up receiving backlash from former co-host Sherri Shepherd for saying the slur on air.

“I heard you say it, and it was fine. You said it a different way,” Shepherd said to Goldberg, per Entertainment Weekly.

When she turned back to Walters, she added, “When I heard you say it, I didn’t like the way you said it. I know, it’s a semantics thing. But there’s something that goes through my body,” to which the veteran journalist asked, “It’s because I’m white that I shouldn’t use the word? So, no white person should use that word? I’m repeating what was on the rock.”

Continuing the conversation on today’s episode, Sunny Hostin said she believes that no one should ever use the N-word, regardless of what race they are.

“A lot of folks in the African American community believe that by using it, they’re reclaiming that word. I don’t have that belief,” she said. “My belief is that it should not be used because it’s a racial slur, by anyone.”

However, Goldberg went on to reiterate her position on who should and shouldn’t be allowed to say the word.

“Whenever people who are not Black say this to me, ‘Why can’t I say it?’ I always say, ‘Go ahead. You know, I might not punch you out, but somebody else might,'” she said. “But, that’s up to you to find out. If you’re not interested in finding out what happens if you do say it, I suggest you don’t say it and just keep moving on with other things.”

The View airs on weekdays at 11/10c on ABC.