Whoopi Goldberg's 69th birthday celebration on "The View" on November 13th was a poignant blend of sweetness and sorrow. While the television personality was in the midst of festivities, she revealed that the bakery entrusted with crafting her birthday treats had initially declined her order, hinting that her political stance might have been the culprit. Though the host gracefully refrained from naming the establishment, "Entertainment Weekly" identified it as Holtermann's Bakery. Subsequently, the bakery refuted this accusation.
The hour-long celebration saw Goldberg generously gifting her audience with her favorite belongings and her friend James Monroe Iglehart serenading everyone with the title track from Broadway's "A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical." The co-hosts of "The View" then indulged in a dessert that held a special place in Goldberg's heart – Charlotte Russe, a layered delight of sponge cake, Bavarian cream, and fruit, reminiscent of her mother's favorite growing up.
Before unveiling her struggle to procure this cherry-adorned treat from the Staten Island bakery, Goldberg quipped, "Charlotte Russe, devoid of political affiliations, was denied to me by the very place meant to create it," causing a collective gasp from the audience. Her co-hosts reacted with astonishment, Sunny Hostin echoing, "Oh, really?" while Sara Haines promptly expelled her bite, eliciting laughter from the spectators.
Goldberg elaborated, "They cited oven malfunctions and myriad excuses, prompting me to keep their identity concealed." However, she speculated, "It couldn't be my gender; perhaps my politics didn't align with theirs." With resilience, she added, "But it's alright. Today is a celebration of my mother. Pick these up and join me in honoring her. Thank you all for being part of my birthday today."
Following Goldberg's on-air accusation that the bakery rejected her due to her politics, masking their refusal with technical difficulties, Jill Holtermann, the owner of Holtermann's Bakery, contradicted her narrative. She clarified to "EW" that "it wasn't because of politics" but due to "boiler troubles" they were grappling with.
Holtermann recounted that Goldberg had initially requested treats for both a November 6th talk show appearance and her birthday broadcast, both of which she declined due to the uncertainty surrounding their baking capabilities amidst boiler issues in their 1930s building. "I told Whoopi, 'I can't do it right now. We have so many things going on with my boiler,'" she explained.
Furthermore, the bakery owner verified Goldberg's claim that an unidentified woman had indeed picked up approximately 50 Charlotte Russe desserts on the morning of November 13th, which she managed to prepare despite the boiler challenges.
