The remarks were made Monday on ABC's "The View," where she is co-host. She later apologized via social media hours later. American Jewish leaders welcomed her revised comments and invited her to visit the national Holocaust memorial in Israel for an educational visit.
"On today’s show, I said that the Holocaust 'isn’t about race but about man’s inhumanity towards man.' I should have stated it is both. Jonathan Greenblatt, Anti-Defamation League's spokesperson, shared that the Holocaust was about Nazi's systematic extermination of the Jewish people.
"All the Jewish people in the world have had my support, and I will continue to do so. "I'm sorry for the pain I have caused," Goldberg stated.
Yad Vashem Chairman Dani Dayan said that Goldberg's "apology" and clarification were important. He invited Goldberg to the World Holocaust Remembrance Center, Jerusalem, to learn more about the Holocaust Remembrance Center's history and to clarify his original remarks. His statement stated that Goldberg's initial comments showed a "fundamental misunderstanding of the Holocaust and antisemitism."
Greenblatt was one of those who thanked Goldberg for her support role in "Ghost," an Oscar winner, for apologizing. He tweeted, "As #antisemitism rises to historic levels I hope we can cooperate to combat ignorance about that horrific crime und the hate that threatens everyone."
The View's hosts were discussing the ban by a Tennessee school board of "Maus," which is a graphic novel that depicts the Nazi death camps during World War Two. The Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel about Nazi death camps was banned by the board.
Goldberg stated, "I'm surprised that that's what made your uncomfortable, the fact there was some nudity. It's about the Holocaust and the six million deaths, but it didn't bother your mind. Let's be honest if you do decide to do this. Because it's not about race. It's not about race.
Joy Behar stated that Nazis believed Jews were a separate race.
"But it's about race. It's not. It's about man’s inhumanity towards other men," Goldberg said.
Ana Navarro replied, "But it is about white supremacy. It's about going after Jews, Gypsies, and Roma.
Goldberg stated that "But these two white groups are people."
Sara Haines pointed out the Nazis didn’t consider Jewish people white.
Goldberg stated, "But you're missing it!" It becomes race when you make it all about race. Let's just talk about it as it is. It is how people treat one another. It's a problem.
Dayan stated, "We must not mince our words. People need to understand what led to Holocaust, the unprecedented murderous drive by Nazis and their collaborators to annihilate all Jews their religion, culture, and values. This was primarily because of their unfounded belief in Jews as their primary and most dangerous racial adversary."
Jill Savitt (president and CEO of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, Atlanta), said, "I understand what she was trying. She also ran the Center for the Prevention of Genocide in the U.S. Washington Holocaust Memorial Museum. "The Nazis constructed a race construct to claim that certain people were less human."
