The Whoopi Goldberg Bakery Controversy: 5 Shocking Facts About The 2025 Feud And Apology Demands

The question of whether Whoopi Goldberg owns a bakery is eclipsed by a major, ongoing controversy that has dominated headlines since late 2024 and continues to make news in 2025. The keyword "Whoopi Goldberg bakery" is now inextricably linked to a highly publicized feud with a 146-year-old family-run business in Staten Island, New York, which she publicly accused of refusing her order due to her political views. As of late 2025, the bakery is still demanding a public apology, turning a simple birthday dessert into a national debate about politics, small businesses, and celebrity influence. This article dives deep into the heart of the matter, providing the most current updates on the controversy, the bakery involved, and the EGOT winner's pivot to a new confectioner for her 2025 birthday celebration, ensuring you have all the facts about this surprising and persistent celebrity scandal.

Whoopi Goldberg: A Quick Biography and Professional Profile (2025)

Whoopi Goldberg, born Caryn Elaine Johnson on November 13, 1955, in New York City, remains one of the most recognizable and influential figures in American entertainment. Her career spans decades across film, television, and theatre, making her one of the elite few to achieve the coveted EGOT status, an acronym for winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award. This rare achievement solidifies her standing as a global entertainment icon.

• Full Name: Caryn Elaine Johnson
• Born: November 13, 1955 (Age 70 in 2025)
• Birthplace: New York City, U.S.
• Occupations: Actress, Comedian, Author, Talk Show Host, Entrepreneur
• EGOT Status: Yes (One of only 19 people in history)
• Current Role: Co-host of the daytime talk show The View
• Recent Ventures (2024-2025): Whoop-Tea (a line of cannabis beverages) and the launch of the All Women's Sports Network (AWSN), a global channel dedicated to women's sports.
• Notable Films: The Color Purple, Ghost, Sister Act, The Lion King
• Awards: Academy Award, Primetime Emmy Award (multiple), Grammy Award, Tony Award, Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, and many others.

Her prominent role on The View, where she frequently discusses current events and political topics, is central to the controversy that has brought the keyword "Whoopi Goldberg bakery" to the forefront of news searches.

The Staten Island Bakery Feud: What Really Happened in 2024?

The entire "Whoopi Goldberg bakery" saga began in late 2024 when Whoopi Goldberg discussed a personal experience on an episode of The View. She claimed that a bakery had refused to make a special dessert for her birthday due to her "politics." The dessert in question was a trifle-esque treat—a sponge cake layered with Bavarian cream and fruit—a beloved favorite of her late mother.

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While Goldberg initially did not name the establishment, online speculation and subsequent media reports quickly identified the business as Holtermann's Bakery, a historic, family-owned institution in Staten Island, New York.

The public accusation immediately sparked a firestorm of controversy, placing the small business at the center of a politically charged media storm. The bakery's owner, Jill Holtermann, vehemently denied the claim that the refusal was political.

Holtermann's Bakery's Official Defense

In response to the accusations, Holtermann's Bakery issued a public statement clarifying the situation. The owner stated that the bakery was experiencing significant issues with its century-old boiler at the time the order was placed. The mechanical failure made it impossible to fulfill custom or large orders, and the refusal was purely logistical, not political.

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The bakery emphasized its long-standing commitment to the Staten Island community and its 146-year history of serving all customers, regardless of their political affiliation or celebrity status. They argued that Goldberg's on-air comments, which were based on speculation, had a damaging and defamatory effect on their reputation and business.

5 Shocking Updates on the Whoopi Goldberg Bakery Feud in 2025

The controversy is far from over. As of late 2025, the fallout from the 2024 incident continues to generate news, particularly with the bakery's official demands and Whoopi's subsequent actions on The View.

1. The Bakery's Formal Demand for an Apology

In a powerful and public move in 2025, Holtermann's Bakery, supported by Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella, held a press conference demanding a formal, public apology from Whoopi Goldberg. The demand centers on the claim that Goldberg's comments constituted defamation against the Holtermann family and their historic business. This political and community support for the small business has kept the story alive and put pressure on the celebrity to address the situation directly.

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2. Goldberg's Silence on the Apology Demand

Despite the formal demand and the widespread media coverage in 2025, Whoopi Goldberg has not publicly issued an apology to Holtermann's Bakery. Her silence on the matter, while she continues to host a major daytime talk show, is a key point of contention for the bakery's supporters, who feel the damage to the business's reputation has been significant and unaddressed.

3. The 2025 Birthday Cake Pivot to Carlo's Bakery

For her 2025 birthday celebration on The View, Whoopi Goldberg completely avoided any reference to the previous year's incident by using a different, highly-publicized bakery. The cake for her 2025 celebration was sourced from Carlo's Bakery, the New Jersey-based establishment made famous by the reality show *Cake Boss* and its star, Buddy Valastro. This strategic move effectively sidestepped the ongoing drama with the Staten Island bakery, but also served as a quiet acknowledgment of the controversy by choosing a new vendor.

4. The Specific Dessert at the Center of the Controversy

The dessert that sparked the entire feud was not a generic cake, but a specific, sentimental treat: a sponge cake layered with Bavarian cream and fruit. Goldberg noted that this was a favorite of her mother's, making the alleged refusal particularly hurtful. This detail underscores the personal nature of the incident for Goldberg, which she believed was a political slight against her.

5. The Broader Political and Business Context

The "Whoopi Goldberg bakery" incident has become a symbol of the friction between celebrity culture, political commentary, and small business operations in America. The bakery's claim of a boiler issue versus Goldberg's claim of political refusal highlights a fundamental disagreement over facts, leading to a public relations nightmare for the small, family-run operation. The incident is frequently cited in discussions about the power of celebrity platforms and the immediate impact of social media and daytime television commentary on local businesses.

Whoopi Goldberg’s Other Thriving Business Entities (Beyond Baking)

While the bakery controversy has dominated the headlines, Whoopi Goldberg is actively involved in several other major business and entrepreneurial ventures in 2025, demonstrating her topical authority and diverse interests:

• Whoop-Tea: In 2025, Whoopi expanded her entrepreneurial portfolio by launching Whoop-Tea, a line of cannabis-infused beverages. This venture was announced at the Cannabis Meets Business (CMB) conference, showcasing her commitment to the growing cannabis market and wellness industry.
• All Women's Sports Network (AWSN): A major announcement in late 2024 was Goldberg's plan to launch the All Women's Sports Network. This television network is dedicated solely to covering women's sports globally, a significant undertaking that reflects her commitment to promoting female athletes and equality in media coverage.
• EGOT Status and Career Longevity: Her continued presence in major projects, including presenting at the 2025 Oscars, solidifies her as a relevant and active figure in Hollywood, leveraging her EGOT status to maintain a high profile across multiple entertainment platforms.

The focus on these new, high-profile ventures in 2025 suggests that while the Holtermann's Bakery controversy remains a persistent issue, Goldberg's professional life is moving forward with significant, non-food-related business launches.