Whoopi Goldberg has publicly responded to her name surfacing in the Jeffrey Epstein documents released by the Department of Justice, rejecting any suggestion of a connection to the convicted sex offender.
Speaking on the February 17 edition of The View, the award-winning actress told viewers: "In the name of transparency, my name is in the files."
The television host was clear to distance herself from Epstein, saying on the programme: "I wasn't his girlfriend. I wasn't his friend."
She added the release of the documents had sparked online backlash, admitting she is "getting dragged" over it.
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Whoopi Goldberg responded to her name surfacing in the Jeffrey Epstein documents
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The only direct link between Ms Goldberg and Mr Epstein discovered in the files was an email dated May 8, 2013.
In the correspondence, an unidentified sender enquired whether Mr Epstein would be willing to lend his aircraft for Ms Goldberg's travel to Monaco.
The message explained the actress required transport to attend an event organised by the White Feather Foundation, an environmental and health charity established by Julian Lennon.
The sender noted the charity was covering costs but preferred a private owner rather than a charter service.
Whoopi Goldberg distanced herself from Jeffrey Epstein
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When asked if he would offer his plane, referred to as he GII, Epstein's response was a brief: "no thnaks (sic)."
Ms Goldberg stressed that she never boarded any aircraft belonging to Epstein, declaring: "No, I didn't get on the plane."
Her co-host Joy Behar observed the situation demonstrated how "anybody can be on this list", given the broad nature of the document collection.
The actress expressed frustration at the public response, stressing "people actually believe that I was with him".
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An unidentified sender enquired whether Jeffrey Epstein would be willing to lend his aircraft for Whoopi Goldberg
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She pointed out her romantic history has always been public knowledge, adding: "Every man that I've ever been with, you've known about him."
Ms Goldberg also criticised the erosion of factual standards, remarking: "You used to have to have facts before you said stuff."
Fellow co-host Sara Haines quipped Ms Goldberg "was too old for him", a reference to Mr Epstein's documented preference for young victims.
The EGOT holder had previously tackled similar speculation during a January 2024 broadcast of The View.
Jeffrey Epstein did not want to lend out his jet
| USDEPARTMENTOFJUSTICEAt that time, claims circulated that she had visited Epstein's private Caribbean island in the US Virgin Islands.
"Apparently, they said I was on the island. And I don't go anywhere," she remarked then.
A review of the released documents confirmed Ms Goldberg has not been accused of any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein.
This is not the first time The View panelist has had to defend herself on air.
Whoppi Goldberg has not been accused of any wrongdoing in connection with Jeffrey Epstein
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In January 2022, Ms Goldberg sparked controversy on The View by claiming the Holocaust was "not about race" but "man's inhumanity to man," saying it involved "two groups of white people."
Her remarks were widely condemned by Jewish organizations, including the Anti-Defamation League and the Auschwitz Memorial, as both dangerous and historically inaccurate.
Ms Goldberg issued an apology on X and repeated it on The View the next morning, but after doubling down in an interview with Stephen Colbert, criticism intensified.
ABC News President Kim Godwin suspended her for two weeks, saying she needed time to "reflect and learn," and Ms Goldberg later apologised again in December 2022 and early 2023 when the issue resurfaced.
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