“The View” Whoopi Goldberg Elisabeth Hasselbeck Fight Video: Crying Elisabeth Whoopi “N” Word Clash

July 17th, 2008 by Castina

Tagged as: Elisabeth Hasselbeck, TV, TV News, The View, Whoopi Goldberg

It’s Elisabeth vs. Rosie Reloaded. This time it was co-host Whoopi Goldberg who brought the conservative Republican to tears. Elisabeth and Whoopi clashed during a discussion about when use of the “N” word is appropriate.

Sparks flew when Elisabeth said no one should use the slur under any circumstances as “it perpetuates stereotypes and hate.”

“How are we supposed to move forward if we keep using words that bring back that pain?”

(Basically another case of someone not getting that the word has a different meaning when Blacks use it. Not justifying it, and I don’t use the word myself, but some African-Americans feel they have a right to- that’s life. I can understand why Elisabeth feels the way she does, though. It can be difficult to wrap your mind around why some people use such a vile word as a term of endearment. It started as a defense mechanism against hate but seems to have snowballed out of control from there.)

Whoopi disagreed with that, but really lit into Lizzie when she made the statement that Whites & People of Color live in “the same world.”

“We do live in different worlds,” Whoopi said. “You don’t understand.”

“I can tell you how, here’s how we do it, you listen and say ‘Okay, this is how we’re using this word and this is why we do it,’ and you have to say, ‘I understand that, but let’s find a new way to move forward.”

“We don’t live in different worlds,” Elisabeth insisted, “We live in the same world.”

Whoopi fired back: “We do live in different worlds, it’s just that way. It is Elisabeth.”

“Take a breath, let someone else talk,” Barbara Walters snapped.

Check out the clip and leave your thoughts on Race Relations in America. Are you Team Whoopi or Team Elisabeth? (I guess I’m a little of both.)

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32 Responses to ““The View” Whoopi Goldberg Elisabeth Hasselbeck Fight Video: Crying Elisabeth Whoopi “N” Word Clash”

On July 17th 2008, ynot wrote:

Elisabeth should really take a few steps back when it comes to speaking out on issues that she has absolutely no knowledge of. She has no idea what issues affect african americans back then and now.
On July 17th 2008, yfer wrote:

Are you kidding me. If it is ok for one it is ok for all. To say otherwise makes you the racist. Elizabeth knows exactly what she is say and is obviously the most intelligent person on this lame show. Whoopie hides her racism behind the cloak of oppresion, grow up. N-word is no more endearing when she uses it as it is when any other person uses it. Get a clue people!
On July 17th 2008, 24pearls wrote:

Team Elisabeth.

I think one reason why there are still issues with race is because the media {& in some cases older generations} won’t let us get passed it.
On July 17th 2008, isabelle wrote:

I agree with Whoopie. Different races really are in different worlds. I am a Hispanic, I don’t speak a word of Spanish I live life like everyone else. I like to think I am pretty fashionable. However you notice differences out in the world. If I go shopping with Caucasian friends at a high end department store and I split from them. It is always a lot more difficult for me to get the attention of a sales person, my friends have no problems. With so much attention being put on imigration problems and illegal aliens, a lot of us american hispanics feel the backlash of peoples frustrations. There are so many things I could explain, but make no mistake there are differences out there and I really think it would be difficult for a Caucasian person to comprehend that since they have never experienced it on the same level.
On July 17th 2008, isabelle wrote:

YFER : Unless you have walked a mile in another persons shoes you can’t judge them. To say whoopi is a racist and that she is hiding behind a cloak of oppression is an extremely ignorant thing to say. Most black people are faced with some sort of racism on a daily basis. Just like Hispanics. I deal with someone, almost a daily basis who would rather not work with me because of my race. Are you telling me that you also deal with problems occurring because of your race? I make jokes with my family about being Hispanic all of the time, and honestly if I heard a white person make the same jokes in my presence, I would not be okay with it. Does that make me a racist too? Because if that’s the case I would have a lot to explain to my white husband. I don’t expect you to understand because again, you have never walked a mile in my shoes. You should really open your mind a little before you pass judgment on a person, especially if you are going to go as far as calling them a racist.
On July 17th 2008, AL wrote:

try this.. Dont say it.. Dont tell people what to say or not say.. and avoid the topic!! wow simple! eventually.. EVENTUALLY!! it will go away!! in a few generations! maybe more.. As long as there is feelings this strong on both sides and there can only be one answer that NO ONE will agree on, this is the only answer. SEE ONLY GOOD BABIES!!
On July 17th 2008, Kim wrote:

Elizabeth needs to stop with her fake ” I’m so perfect and I know every thing.” She is so ignorant.
On July 17th 2008, krucial wrote:

I understand what Elizabeth is saying and I understand what Whoopi is saying. The difference is WE ARE NOT IN THE SAME WORLD. Elizabeth is speaking from a culture which is sitting 2 steps up and Whoopi is speaking from a culture that is percieved as 2 steps down. Yes we would love balance, but until both sides recognize the big picture not much more will change. I hate the word, but it’s used in so much black culture today, it’s hard to avoid it. Both women have great points but the reality is that the black/white war is pretty much over…the new war is rich/poor.
On July 17th 2008, SarahLita wrote:

If we don’t speak, problems will never be heard.

If we do speak, we have the capabilities to:
rise or fall
help or hurt
brighten or darken
hate or love

or any thing in between. Everyone is discriminated in one way or another. It might be about race, sex, age, class, sexual preference, religious views or even things as simple as hair color. This is not just because we live in a dark, evil world. We as human beings are fearful of the unknown. Sometimes it is easier to hide behind words than to try to open our minds and hearts to what we fear.
On July 17th 2008, AlwaysHungry wrote:

Why be team anything. Is was a discussion. Each one brings their point of view. What Elisabeth needs to do though is learn not to get so flustered or break down. It cuts off communication. Sometimes people will just not agree. That is life but again.

Why choose sides?

My point of view - I don’t use the word EVER but I still feel no need to take sides when two people voice their opinions.
On July 17th 2008, traci wrote:

The only thing I dont like is when white people say or pretend there isnt racism. A white person can never tell an african american that we live in the same world. Me, an african american medical student, face racism more frequent than I care to mention. It’s like, “oh you are black, you shouldnt be a med student.”
On July 17th 2008, Robert wrote:

As someone who works with inner city kids of many nationalities, I don’t see how words like that as being constructive. We promote positive behavior and treating each other with respect. We are proud to say, the kids in our program are doing very in school and work well with each other. What I hate to see is the crime, violence and drugs these kids are exposed to. These things are not exclusive to any race or nationality. If a child hears something long enough he or she will tend to believe it, that includes the N-word.
Whoopi has made it very clear on several shows, she has a dislike for white people and I’m sorry for that. But the fact is, there is a whole world of Americans of all nationalities that get along just fine and they don’t have to use the N-word.
On July 17th 2008, ya wrote:

“Elisabeth should really take a few steps back when it comes to speaking out on issues that she has absolutely no knowledge of.”

What’s new?
On July 17th 2008, Fuller wrote:

No one group has a monopoly on being the object of bigotry. I’m a white, American female and I deal with racism almost every time I leave my house–not to mention sexism! Is that a reason to stereotype all people who have harrassed me? Absolutely not. If a word is offensive, then it must never be used. Period. You simply can’t have it both ways. If you’re going to keep a racial epiteph going then you keep it alive, give it validity and, instead of moving forward, we continually rehash this tired subject.
On July 18th 2008, Grey wrote:

I am black and I totally agree with Elizabeth. NO ONE should be using that word. The word was sprung out of such hatred and pain until anyone who condones its usage can’t understand why white people shouldn’t be saying it either. This word will never be removed from the conscience of our people if black people keep throwing it around as a word of love and friendhip, and telling whites it’s so hateful. That’s ridiculous to me.
On July 18th 2008, Dave wrote:

I’m curious, how does one justify two sets of rules for the use of this word? My opinion; Woopi enjoys using the specter of racism as a liscence to be condecending. If you debate with another person under the premise that they cannot possssibly understand your perspective because of their skin color, that is offensive. Woopi is saying that skin color defines your experince in life and your ability to understand certain things, like the specific use of this word, and that is inherently racist. She is a contemptible fool at best, at worst, she’s worse.
On July 18th 2008, Vincent wrote:

Someone answer this.. what is it that Liz said that was so bad? She didn’t say anything that was divisive but was promoting togetherness. We all do live in the same world.. in our case it’s America. This country is known as the Melting Pot but people are beginning to forget that. The point of the Civil Rights movement was for equality. Why are we still at a place where its only ok for some people to use the n word? It may be acceptable to use the n word in the black culture, but I think it only hurts blacks in the long term. African Americans ARE equal now they just have to start believing it. Peace to all.
On July 18th 2008, Christine wrote:

TEAM WHOOPI!!!
TEAM WHOOPI!!!
TEAM WHOOPI!!!
TEAM WHOOPI!!!
TEAM WHOOPI!!!

Elizabeth is always in some sort of debate. She doesn’t know the history behind the “N” word. There is pain behind the word that she will never know. Elisabeth is way too conservative and closed minded and needs to take a step back and look at the issue as if she were in an African American’s shoes.

TEAM WHOOPI!!!
TEAM WHOOPI!!!
TEAM WHOOPI!!!
TEAM WHOOPI!!!
TEAM WHOOPI!!!
On July 18th 2008, Evenflow wrote:

To all those who think they should be able to say the N-word because Black people say it. You ever call you family member an idiot or something worse? What do you do when someone else does it?
You tell them off. Why would you think you have a right to force yourself into their personal space? You are not a part of the circle. I know there are going to be people saying if you call you family or someone close to you a name anyone should call them it. Then that person who says this or anything like it is a lair. I have seen and heard people of all race and in different language call their kids, wives, friends, and family names that they would go postal if a random person or someone outside their circle were to say it.
Though our worlds are still different they are coming together. Though slow it shows great promise for our nation’s future if we can at least talk about these subjects.
On July 18th 2008, Edward wrote:

Well, all I have to say is this, I don’t use the word, never have, and my parents don’t use the word when we came here form France, and first heard that word used in Oklahoma, and in Virginia, we were put aside ourselfs, and from then on we fought to not use that word, now in some black homes the word is used to mean something different, and in others it means something different, we should not be using the word period. We call yourselfs adults, but we seem to not get past the past, God says to forgive and forget, have most of us done that, I don’t really think so. You know that webster dictionary took the word out of the dictionary, when my little sister found it after a little white girl said it to her because she heard mommy or daddy, or big brother or someone in her family say it one day, and decided that is was a good word to use, remember children look up to us and mook us as they grow and learn, so teach them the right thing to say and how to be, remember you have to answer to GOD when the time comes, and I hope you have a good answer, and to say something about the talk show, it was good that they both talked it out and got it out, as women in this world, the show is diverse to say the least four women all of different colors and backgrounds keep it up and maybe we cam still change this world for the better and get some of these young kids to use different words to express themselves. Ciao and Merci.
Edouard
On July 18th 2008, Alona wrote:

This is for Isabelle; If it is true that we are living in different world’s that whites could never understand, then tell black men to quit dating white women. Or if is just a double standered for blacks then that is reversed racism. And that is more and more the case in movies and tv, pushing black men on white women. As a black woman I am pissed at how we are not givin equality in anything in America, black men could vote 50 years before black and white women could vote. And I think for the most part black women are to strong will’d for most black men, that is why they go for the stupid low self esteem white girls. Peace
On July 21st 2008, Gen wrote:

The Whoopi-Elisabeth argument painfully underscored the truth that Africans will never achieve intellectual parity with Europeans. This is in large why “people of color” and their liberal lapdogs perpetually cry racism.

Rosie the muffdiver was the first to rightly be outed by Elisabeth, and now she’s gone, out with yesterday’s dirty dishwater. Perhaps Whoopi will be next–and then Barbara Walters.

The only mistake Elisabeth made was to cry upon being right. Whoopi might just be one of the ugliest homo sapiens ever to frequent a television screen–both physically and emotionally. Whoopi’s words are the type that might just persuade people not to vote for Barack Obama. Liberal ABC ought not spend any more time promoting this kind of garbage, if it doesn’t want another four years of Republican governance.
On July 21st 2008, Toni wrote:

We don’t live in the same world. No one can tell another race how racism affects them. The real test is the meaning behind the word. From one Black person to another it’s not a demeaning word in a lot of cases. From a white person to a Black person it is. The truth is some people don’t want anyone to use certain words because they can’t use them. All races have “inside” jokes.
On July 28th 2008, Judy wrote:

I am a Black women in the South and I totally agree with Elizabeth. My husband and I raised a boy and a girl not to say that word. I cringe when I hear it used. I don’t think we can move forward when we keep taking these steps backward. My entire family are educators and this is not a good thing to say, “we use it how we want to and you all use it for something else.” It is time to cut the word so we can really heal.
On October 19th 2008, Renee wrote:

I agree with whoopi, as a Black woman, you cannot understand me or what I have been through until you walk in my shoes. white people will NEVER understand. I laugh outloud when people (black and white) try to preten that racism does not exist anymore, maybe in their own minds it doesn’t but thy are only fooling themselves. Ms. Hasselbeck doesn’t see racism because she hasn’t experienced it. she comes from a very white world. I am a few years older than she is but I am from the dame small state, went to the same high school, I was THE ONLY BLACK STUDENT in junior high school (7th and 8th grade) of the high school that she went to, there were 7 Black girl in the all girl catholic high school grauatin calss in the high school we went to the year I graduated, that was the highest number ever, and I don’t think that there have been that many since, my niece is there now and she is one of in her grauating class, so Ms. Hasselbexk has a very limited experience with other races!
On October 30th 2008, Jarvis A. Brodie wrote:

The people at ABC need to send Hasselbeck this ultimatum: Resign or be fired!
On November 1st 2008, erin wrote:

u need hasselbeck. she’s pretty. and its good to have someone who stirs things up. HELLO– this is television.
On March 14th 2009, tracy wrote:

In some languages there are four or more ways to say the word: “you”. If you are talking to royalty or the king you say ‘hazur’ or whatever, if to an ordinary elder you say ‘tapai’, if to someone your “equal” who you know well ‘timi’, if to a little baby, a lover, extremely close friend or to someone you detest, who is “lower” than you, or who you are putting down, you say, ‘taw’,.. Now how could “taw’ be a term of deep endearment or a term of total hatred depending on the context? It makes you think of the N word, doesn’t it? Perhaps this is part of what Whoopi was trying to explain. Most people (especially most white people) don’t understand that. [unless they've lived long enough among black folks who use the N word in you might say a certain creative, ironic way to express affection]. Many young people will tell you there is a difference between the word nigger (hate) and nigga (love, affection, humor). In a sense they are excorcizing the word of its hateful past by using it all the time in a new way. What is a painfully ugly word becomes almost a thing of beauty on the right lips. I still hate and feel uncomfortable with the word, but that is only because I didn’t grow up in the same exact world as Dave Chapelle, or any other comic genius, and their contemporaries. Theoretically, the word should probably be banned for everyone, but life is sometimes deeper and richer than theoretical concepts. A good lawyer argues for the spirit behind a law, not necessarily for the letter of the law. It is the same with words: the spirit behind the use of a word is more important than the word itself. If people within a certain group spontaneously understand how a word is being used and are not doing it to offend each other it does not have the same negative force it can have when 1) someone from another race or language set uses it and their intent is potentially unknown or 2) someone of any race, even black, uses it with a hateful tone.
On April 10th 2009, Stacey wrote:

The thing that upsets me about the additional use of the word “nigger” in play or friendliness is that it means IGNORANCE. Dictionary definition and why it was originally used.
Any color can be ignorant. Slave traders used it because they felt the Africans were ignorant. They were abused and treated like children. This is why the connotation of “nigger” is such a crap thing to say to ANYONE.
Mexicans wear those low pants and THAT comes from a racism movement in a prison where the hispanics were laughed at and given pants that didn’t fit. They wore them in rebellion in the prison with pride.
Interesting historical reasons for things - look it up.
Just FYI.
On May 11th 2009, Mary wrote:

As an extremely poor white woman you probably cannot understand me or what I have been through until you walk in my shoes.
When do we get to tell our stories?
Our ancestors never owned land and we don’t own any land today. Our parents have 6th grade educations and we had to get jobs after high school graduation to help support them, ourselves, and our siblings. Our kids can’t even go to high school today because it’s too dangerous where we live.
On July 1st 2009, ciaoshann wrote:

Team Whoopi all the way!
On July 2nd 2009, Jennifer wrote:

I have a really hard time believing that HAsselbeck is that concerned about African-Americans comsidering she thinks we all live in the same world. She is such a self righteous hypocrit. She used her typical Hasselbeck move and cried when she didn’t get her way.