Whoopi Goldberg Gets Intense With Rosie O’Donnell: Heated Argument Over Obama’s Racism Examples Explodes (Video)

Whoopi Goldberg and Rosie O’Donnell have been at odds for quite sometime. However, things may have gotten worse on the latest episode of The View.

According to The Daily Mail, the “Hot Topics” segment went awry when Goldberg and O’Donnell touched on the subject of racism in America. Obviously, the two Hollywood veterans have opposing views where race-related issues are concerned. The conversation began as a typical discussion about President Obama and the First Lady’s experiences with racism. During a recent interview with People, Mrs. Obama shared some interesting details about her publicized trip to Target where she and her husband were mistaken for “hired help.”

President Obama also revealed there was a time he was mistaken for a waiter at a gala. In a nutshell, the first family isn’t exempt from racism because of their political status. So, the question during “Hot Topics” was: “Is it racism or is it ridiculousness?” However, the discussion between Goldberg and O’Donnell quickly escalated to verbal sparring match about racism and ignorance in America with the two women shouting at each other!

Apparently, they have two different definitions of racism. While O’Donnell feels some of the recent controversial happenings are a result of racism, Goldberg feels its simply a demonstration of ignorance. Here’s the dialogue of the heated exchange between the Goldberg and O’Donnell along with Rosie Perez and Orange Is The New Black star Laverne Cox.

“Racism exists and that’s a fact of American history and life today, and so we have to face it,” O’Donnell said.

“Race only comes up for other people,” Goldberg said. “We’ve always been black. We don’t think about it; it just is. But other people want us to address: Is it racism? Do you think it’s racism? I don’t know.”

“When you’re asking the President of the United States to get your keys, that’s racism!” said co-host, Rosie Perez.

You guys need to know what real racism is,” Goldberg told the panel of co-hosts.

Goldberg even went a step further to share an example of the difference between racism and raw ignorance. She recalled a time when her mother was followed through a store by a clerk. Although most would consider this to be racist, Goldberg explained how its simply a display of ignorance to imply that all African Americans may steal. As the conversation continued, things escalated between her and O’Donnell.

“I think a country that elects an African-American president twice, I don’t think every American is racist,” conservative co-host Nicolle Wallace said.

“And then a Congress that doesn’t allow him to do one thing,” O’Donnell interjected.

“Listen, you are a white lady telling me what is racist to you, which is fine,” Goldberg told O’Donnell.

“I’m a gay-American that has been called a dyke,” O’Donnell fired back.

“It’s not the same,” Goldberg exclaimed.

“‘You don’t have to be black to know what racism is,” O’Donnell argued.

“Yes you do,” Goldberg said.

“No you don’t,” O’Donnell said.

“Yes you do, baby,” Goldberg said. “There are white people who get it. But this is why I will not agree with the blanket statement that America is racist. I don’t agree, I’m sorry. Kick my butt.”

The heated argument was definitely one of most intense the two have had thus far.

Do you think its racism or ridiculousness? Share your thoughts.

[Image via YouTube]