Whoopi Goldberg Apologizes for Holocaust Race Remarks: 'I Stand Corrected'

The actress Whoopi Goldberg has apologized for saying the Holocaust wasn't about race.

The 66-year-old Oscar-winning actress and television personality said on ABC's The View on Monday that the Nazi genocide of the Jews involved "two groups of white people."

The Holocaust saw the state-sponsored murder of 6 million Jews by the Nazis, who believed they were part of a superior "Aryan" race.

Goldberg released a statement on her social media late on Monday in response to the criticism she received for her comments.

"On today's show, I said the Holocaust 'is not about race, but about man's inhumanity to man.' I should have said it is about both," Goldberg said.

"As Jonathan Greenblatt from the Anti-Defamation League shared, 'The Holocaust was about the Nazi's systematic annihilation of the Jewish people—who they deemed to be an inferior race' I stand corrected.

"The Jewish people around the world have always had my support and that will never waiver. I'm sorry for the hurt I have caused.

"Written with my sincerest apologies, Whoopi Goldberg"

Newsweek has contacted Goldberg for comment.

Her remarks came as she was speaking to the The View hosts about the recent banning of Maus—a graphic novel about the Nazi death camps during World War Two —by a Tennessee school board. The board cited nudity and profanity as its reasons for banning the book, which has won several literary awards, including a Pulitzer Prize.

Responding to the news, Goldberg said on The View: "I'm surprised that's what made you uncomfortable, the fact that there was some nudity. I mean, it's about the Holocaust, the killing of six million people, but that didn't bother you? If you're going to do this, then let's be truthful about it. Because the Holocaust isn't about race. No, it's not about race."

Co-host Joy Behar said that the Nazis said Jews were a different race.

"But it's not about race. It's not. It's about man's inhumanity to other man," Goldberg replied.

Co-host Ana Navarro responded: "But it's about white supremacy. It's about going after Jews and Gypsies and Roma."

Goldberg said: "But these are two white groups of people."

Co-host Sara Haines pointed out that the Nazis didn't see Jewish people as white.

Goldberg countered: "But you're missing the point! The minute you turn it into race, it goes down this alley. Let's talk about it for what it is. It's how people treat each other. It's a problem."

The actress was heavily criticized on social media for her comments.

The U.S. Holocaust Museum tweeted: "Racism was central to Nazi ideology. Jews were not defined by religion, but by race. Nazi racist beliefs fuelled genocide and mass murder."

Greenblatt tweeted: "No @WhoopiGoldberg, the #Holocaust was about the Nazi's systematic annihilation of the Jewish people—who they deemed to be an inferior race. They dehumanized them and used this racist propaganda to justify slaughtering six million Jews. Holocaust distortion is dangerous."