Whoopi Goldberg's Barbie Rebellion: A Stand Against Ben Shapiro's Critique
In a recent episode of "The View," Whoopi Goldberg, the show's moderator, made a bold statement against conservative commentator Ben Shapiro's criticism of the new Barbie movie. Goldberg, known for her outspokenness, used her platform to challenge Shapiro's views, which she deemed overly sensitive and out of touch with the film's target audience.
Shapiro had previously lambasted the Barbie movie, directed by Greta Gerwig and starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, as an "angry feminist claptrap." He argued that the film "alienates men from women, undermines basic human values, and promotes falsehood all at the same time." Goldberg, however, dismissed his critique as an overreaction to a simple doll movie.
"It's a movie. It's a movie about a doll. I thought y'all would be happy. She has no genitalia, so there's no sex involved, Ken has no genitalia so he can't [either]. It's a doll movie," Goldberg retorted during the live broadcast. She emphasized that children, the primary audience for the film, perceive it differently from adults. "The kids are looking at it as a Barbie movie. You guys, I want you all to tell your daughters why you're not taking them to see the Barbie movie. I want you to explain to them what's wrong with Barbie."
In a theatrical display of her stance, Goldberg lifted her leg onto the table to reveal her wedge shoes, which contained decapitated Barbie doll heads. "Now, look, I love my Barbie, okay? It's a doll movie, guys. I'm shocked that that's what's freaking you out these days," she said.
Alyssa Farah Griffin, the show's conservative co-host, agreed with Goldberg's sentiment. She praised the movie as "fun" and lauded Gerwig's brilliance as a director. Griffin also expressed surprise at the intense reactions from some right-wing men, who she felt were overly concerned about the film's potential impact on masculinity.
Goldberg concluded the segment by reminding viewers that the Barbie movie, which had a record-breaking opening weekend, grossing $162 million domestically, is a fantasy. It's not meant to indoctrinate but to entertain and perhaps provoke thought. "It's not meant to do anything but give you a good time. Go see the movie," Goldberg urged.
This episode of "The View" highlighted the ongoing debate about gender representation in media and the potential influence of children's movies on societal norms. Goldberg's unique protest, featuring Barbie doll heads in her shoes, will undoubtedly be remembered as a symbolic stand against overly sensitive critiques of children's entertainment.