Whoopi Goldberg Defends Aretha Franklin’s Family for Inviting Louis Farrakhan to Funeral [WATCH]

YouTube video

“The View” co-host Whoopi Goldberg addressed the controversy and criticism of Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan being allowed to share a stage with former President Bill Clinton and other prominent Democrats at Aretha Franklin’s funeral last Friday.

Goldberg on Tuesday defended the move because Franklin’s family invited him to take part in the ceremony. As noted by Atlanta Black Star, recalling the hours-long event, Goldberg weighed in how Clinton caught heat because of the controversial religious leader.

“You’re bitchin’ about this, you need to call the [Franklin] family,” she said on “The View.”

“Because the family invited Farrakhan there. They know him, there’s a reason he was there — and you don’t get up off a dais when you’ve been invited there to celebrate that person’s life.”

OTHER NEWS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED: Geoffrey Owens Accepts Tyler Perry Job Offer and Nicki Minaj Donates $25k!

Aretha Franklin’s Funeral

“It’s not about Bill Clinton or Louis Farrakhan. It’s all about Aretha,” Goldberg added, drawing applause from the audience.

She also stressed to the critics: “you can’t control everything.”

“Everybody needs to just pull back — just pull it back, you know, and understand that this is — we don’t control everything. The family decided this was what they wanted, and that’s what they set up.”

A bit later, Behar jumped in to ask: “Why are they criticizing Clinton? Why not Sharpton and Jesse Jackson? They were there, too.”

Hear what else the ladies had to say about the issue via the clip above.

Meanwhile, Farrakhan shared his reaction to Franklin’s homegoing on Twitter, “I was honored to be among the many who attended the beautiful funeral services in Detroit for our dear sister Aretha Franklin,” he said. “She could never know how many lives her songs, her soul, have actually saved.

We Publish News 24/7. Don’t Miss A Story. Click HERE to SUBSCRIBE to Our Newsletter Now!

A$AP Rocky during trial - screenshot
Drake (Getty)
Tamika Mallory - Getty
D'Angelo - Getty
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3
W. Kamau Bell
Cynthia Erivo - via Instagram
Donald Trump (scowling) - via Grok AI2
NYC Subway
Zendaya (Gilbert Flores-Variety-Getty Images)
Cherelle Parker - screenshot
Read More
Kanye West and Bianca Censori on Grammy Red Carpet - screenshot
Read More
Beyond the Gates
Read More
Damon Wayans
Read More
Denzel Washington - Gladiator II
Read More
Learjet after crashing - via Grok AI
Read More
Sunny Hostin
Read More
Amtrak
Read More
Will Smith (AI character from 'I Am Legend 2'
Read More
Bevelyn Beatty Williams
Read More

POPULAR

Beyond the Gates
CBS to Air Special on New Daytime Soap Opera 'Beyond The Gates'
Zero Day/Robert De Niro
Netflix Drops Official ‘Zero Day’ Trailer Starring Robert De Niro and Angela Bassett
Taco Bell customer and security guard who slapped her
Crunch Slap Supreme: Taco Bell Security Guard Caught Brutally Slapping Black Woman in Viral Video | WATCH
Irv Gotti - Getty
Irv Gotti's Family Expects a Packed Church for His Funeral at Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral
Raising Kanan Fourth Season
New Trailer for 'Power Book III: Raising Kanan' Hints at Intense Season 4 | Watch
Kendrick Lamar (Getty Images - CNN Newsource)
Who is Worthy to Follow Up Kendrick Lamar At 2026 Super Bowl Halftime Show?
Denzel Washington - via Grok AI
Wait. Whaat?! Denzel Washington Forced to 'Slow Down' After Nearly Biting His Tongue Off
Jalen Hurts - Getty
Jalen Hurts' Mother Confronts Fox Sports Analyst Nick Wright over Criticism
Serena Williams - via screenshot
Serena Williams Reveals Kendrick Lamar Requested Her Crip Walk Performance - That's it. No 'Git Back' at Drake