Whoopi Goldberg was publicly accused of defamation on Friday, two days after “The View” co-host suggested a bakery didn’t want to make her birthday desserts due to her left-leaning political views.
Goldberg celebrated her 69th birthday on “The View” this week, where she told viewers her order for several dozen Charlotte Russe cakes was initially refused. Though Goldberg didn’t identify the bakery in question, many viewers quickly figured out she was referring to Holtermann’s Bakery on Staten Island, thanks to the sweet treat’s distinct packaging.
On Thursday, owner Jill Holtermann — whose family operates the 146-year-old bakery in Great Kills — confirmed she was the person Goldberg called out. She denied refusing the pre-order because of politics, and instead said she rejected it due to equipment issues.
At a press conference on Friday, Holtermann was joined by Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella, who alleged Goldberg “besmirched and defamed” Holtermann’s Bakery, causing an “unwarranted controversy.” The Republican demanded she issue a public apology for “making stuff up to suit [her] needs.”
According to Goldberg, she was told the bakery couldn’t honor her 50-unit order because of trouble with their boiler. But when aides were sent to pick up the cakes in person two weeks later, they had no problem, leading Goldberg to believe the bakery “did not like my politics.”
Fossella backed Holtermann’s claim that the bake shop didn’t take Goldberg’s pre-order because they weren’t sure when the kitchen would be up and running effectively. The bakery’s signature cakes eventually did get made and were enjoyed by the co-hosts of “The View” at the end of Wednesday’s episode.
Staten Island Councilman David Carr also took to the mic at the press conference, saying they were gathered “to send a message to the person who decided she was too important for a boiler breakdown.”
“She had to have her pastries and if it wasn’t coming to her, it must have been someone else’s fault. It must have been a directed insult to her,” he said.
He later slammed the co-hosts of “The View” in a post on Facebook.
“Shame on the members of ‘The View’ for slandering a Staten Island institution with an exceptional reputation spanning over a century,” he wrote. “I’m proud to defend Holtermann’s Bakery and any Staten Island business from baseless political accusations.”
Holtermann on Friday thanked all those who showed their support at the press conference, as well as those who reached out after word spread that she and her team were the alleged culprits in the morning show drama.
“I’ve seen how hard my family has worked to keep this business alive and I wish my father was here today to see this,” she emotionally said.
If Holtermann’s Facebook page is any indication of the support the bakery has received in the wake of the controversy, business is booming.
“I heard about this on Fox News,” wrote one person saying they’re from North Carolina. “I want to order some pastries. Do you ship?”
Similar responses came from California, Arizona and Pennsylvania.
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