Television presenter Whoopi Goldberg has sparked controversy by suggesting that white American football fans attending the Super Bowl should darken their skin with cocoa butter and adopt Latin accents to confuse immigration enforcement officers.
The comedian made the comments during Monday's broadcast of ABC's The View while discussing plans by the Department of Homeland Security to deploy federal agents at the championship match.
"Everybody, get a little cocoa butter, sit in the sun, that's the first thing," Ms Goldberg told viewers directly. "And then - and this is the only time you can probably ever do this - give yourself a Latin accent."
Her comments came in response to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem's announcement that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) would maintain a significant presence at the sporting event where Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny is scheduled to perform during the interval.
The View: Whoopi Goldberg urged white football fans to use cocoa butter
|ABC
The exchange between the programme's presenters began when co-host Joy Behar questioned how authorities would identify their targets, suggesting officials had been granted permission to question individuals based on Spanish accents or darker skin tones.
"And just see if she can tell who is who," Ms Goldberg continued, prompting agreement from Ms Behar, who responded: "You know, Whoopi, that is a good idea."
Ms Behar subsequently drew parallels to historical resistance during the Second World War, recounting how Danish citizens allegedly wore yellow stars to prevent Nazis from identifying Jewish residents, though she acknowledged this account has been disputed by historians.
Former Trump administration communications director Alyssa Farah Griffin, also appearing on the panel, weighed in with practical concerns, exclaiming: "I can't afford a Super Bowl ticket!"
The View: Whoopi Goldberg has come under fire for her comments
|ABC
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The exchange drew laughter from the ABC audience, but after clips from the discussion were shared on social media, it's safe to say those at home had a very different response.
"Reducing crime to race is lazy thinking," one X user fumed. "Violence comes from culture, policy, and breakdowns in family & education, not skin color. And Whoopi’s 'cocoa butter disguise' stunt? Pure clown show. We need truth & accountability, not celebrity cosplay politics."
A second similarly hit out: "I was reliably told this was extremely racist like 5 seconds ago... What is happening on The View?!"
Elsewhere, a third fumed: "The racism is oozing from her. She assumes that since she sees everything through a racial filter, that ICE does too. ICE doesn’t just round up people of any color unless they are in known illegal or criminal gathering areas."
Kristi Noem is Trump's Homeland Security Secretary
|REUTERS
And a fourth echoed: "Poor Whoopi, she so wants everything to be about race. Is that the only way she thinks she can be relevant?"
"Whoopi's comments are a prime example of the left's hypocrisy on race. If a conservative said this, they'd be crucified. Double standards are alive and well," a fifth weighed in.
Before a sixth raged: "Using race as a political joke? Totally unacceptable. Influence comes with responsibility, Whoopi." (sic)
Ms Goldberg's comments came after Ms Noem recently confirmed that federal immigration agents would be deployed throughout the venue, stating that only "law-abiding Americans who love this country" should attend the match.
Joy Behar saw the funny side of Whoopi's remarks
|ABC
The secretary emphasised her department's responsibility for ensuring attendees could "enjoy it and to leave," whilst confirming: "Yeah, we'll be all over that place. We're going to enforce the law."