Whoopi Goldberg made it clear she had no interest in discussing Meghan Markle on Wednesday’s episode of “The View”.
The 69-year-old actress refused to engage in a Hot Topics segment about the Duchess of Sussex.
When the conversation turned to Meghan’s controversial use of her HRH title in a note to a friend, Goldberg’s response was theatrical.
“Damn them!” she sarcastically exclaimed to her co-hosts.
Whoopi Goldberg refuses to talk about Meghan Markle as TV segment descends into chaos
YouTube / Getty
After posing a question about whether it was “a bad look for Meghan to still refer to herself as a royal”, Goldberg promptly declared: “Wake me up when you’re done!”
She then pretended to fall asleep during the discussion.
The controversy centred on Meghan using “With Compliments of HRH The Duchess of Sussex” in a printed note to her friend Jamie Kern Lima.
This sparked debate as Meghan and Prince Harry quit their roles as working royals in 2020.
Sunny Hostin defended Meghan Markle amidst the chaotic segment
YouTube / The View
The note was included in a gift basket Meghan sent to Lima “about a year ago”, according to the IT Cosmetics co-founder, who revealed this on her podcast.
Sources close to Meghan claimed her use of the HRH title was not intended for public purposes.
These insiders insisted Meghan hadn’t broken her agreement with the late Queen Elizabeth II to no longer publicly use the HRH title.
After the other co-hosts had their say, Goldberg suddenly “woke up” from her feigned slumber.
Meghan Markle signed her letter with the royal sign-off: HRHInstagram / Jamie Kern Lima“Can I ask a really dumb question that I just woke up for?” she inquired. When Joy Behar jokingly asked if they were boring her, Goldberg replied: “It’s the subject matter.”
The “Sister Act” star then offered her only substantive comment on the controversy. She said she thinks “it’s cringier” that Lima exposed Meghan’s note publicly.
“To me, I think if someone gives you a gift… I don’t feel like she needed to show that,” Goldberg remarked.
Sunny Hostin praised her insight, to which Goldberg quipped: “Well yeah, I’m old enough to be insightful.”
Meghan Markle stepped down as a working royal in 2020PA
The other co-hosts had mixed opinions on the royal title controversy. Sunny Hostin defended Meghan, insisting she can use her royal title in private situations.
“The agreement that was made did not remove the title. It restricted the way it was to be used. It was not to be used publicly,” Hostin explained. She emphasised that the gift was “private” and contained “strawberry jam that she made herself”.
Alyssa Farah Griffin called Meghan’s actions “a little cringe” but also criticised “petty” Prince William for reportedly planning to strip the Sussexes of their titles.
Sara Haines was more critical of Meghan, comparing it to a doctor insisting on their title. “I would never refer to myself as Her Royal Highness,” Haines stated.
