The atmosphere on ABC's The View turned electrically charged as Whoopi Goldberg found herself at the centre of a fiery debate, defending a woman accused of spying for Russia against the outrage of her fellow co-hosts.
The discussion centred on Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian national recently featured in a BBC News Russian service documentary. Zarutska is alleged to have worked with Russian intelligence, providing information that led to a devastating missile strike on a Ukrainian military base in Donetsk in 2014, which killed dozens of soldiers.
Goldberg, however, offered a starkly different perspective, framing Zarutska not as a malicious agent but as a victim of circumstance. "She's a mother, she's trying to survive," Goldberg argued, suggesting the woman's actions were driven by desperation to provide for her child amidst the chaos of conflict.
Co-Hosts Clash in Heated On-Air Confrontation
The moderator's comments were immediately met with fierce opposition from conservative co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin. "She gave targeting information that killed 30 of her fellow countrymen... There is no justifying that," Griffin retorted, her voice firm with conviction.
Sunny Hostin swiftly backed her up, drawing a hard line in the sand. "That's a traitor. I'm sorry, that is a traitor... You don't get to do that and then claim, 'I'm just a mom.'" The segment quickly escalated into a tense back-and-forth, highlighting a deep moral divide on the panel.
Viewer Backlash Erupts on Social Media
The controversy did not stay confined to the studio. Social media platform X (formerly Twitter) erupted with criticism directed at Goldberg. Many viewers expressed shock and disbelief at her position, accusing her of sympathising with a figure who allegedly aided actions resulting in the deaths of Ukrainian soldiers.
Comments ranged from accusations of naivety to outright condemnation, with one user succinctly capturing the sentiment of many: Goldberg's take was "disgusting and a slap in the face" to the victims of the attack.
This incident is not the first time Goldberg has courted controversy with her opinions on global conflicts. Her stance on the complex and deeply sensitive issue of the Russia-Ukraine war continues to provoke strong reactions from both her colleagues and the public.
