Whoopi Goldberg Surprises Fans by Using Her Real Name on The View
Whoopi Goldberg, the 69-year-old actress and TV personality, stunned viewers during Monday’s episode of The View when she casually referred to herself by her birth name, Caryn Elaine Johnson.
Goldberg, known for iconic roles in The Color Purple (1985) and Sister Act (1992), has become a household name over the decades. However, not everyone knows the origin of her stage name—or even that it’s not her given name.
Whoopi Goldberg cemented her name as an icon in the world of cinema. Credit: Cindy Ord / Getty
The Reveal on The View
During a discussion about a controversial tech start-up creating a platform to reveal the political affiliations of potential neighbors, Goldberg voiced her disapproval:
“That is not a good idea because number one, it’s none of your business, and number two, it just fosters more division.”
Her co-hosts shared varying perspectives. Sara Haines agreed with Goldberg, pointing out that “jerks come in every political affiliation,” while Alyssa Farah Griffin added it would be “boring” to live in an ideologically homogenous community.
Sunny Hostin provided a nuanced take, saying as someone with a multiracial family, she values feeling welcome in her community.
“I wouldn’t want to live next to an extremist that would make my family feel unwelcome,” Hostin said, adding, “But I don’t think that’s a political affiliation thing. I think it’s a behavioral thing.”
Goldberg then reflected on how discussions about voting have changed over time, recalling her upbringing:
“I was raised, you never asked anybody how they were voting. I would say, ‘Ma, who are you going to vote for?’ and she’d just give me that look. And she’d say to me, ‘Caryn, that’s nobody’s business.’”
Fans React to the Name Revelation
The casual mention of her birth name surprised many fans, with one user on X (formerly Twitter) writing:
“Whoopi’s real name is Caryn… can’t make something like that up.”
The Story Behind the Name “Whoopi”
Goldberg has previously opened up about her stage name, sharing its unique origin in a 2006 interview with The New York Times.
“Here’s the thing. When you’re performing on stage, you never really have time to go into the bathroom and close the door. So if you get a little gassy, you’ve got to let it go,” she explained.
“So people used to say to me, ‘You are like a whoopee cushion.’ And that’s where the name came from.”
The surname Goldberg was chosen, she added, to reflect her family’s Jewish heritage.
A Legacy Beyond Names
Regardless of whether fans know her as Caryn or Whoopi, Goldberg remains one of the most versatile and celebrated figures in Hollywood. Her accolades include an Academy Award, a Tony Award, a Grammy Award, and an Emmy Award—making her an EGOT winner.
Goldberg casually referred to herself by her birth name on The View. Credit: Arturo Holmes/MG21 / Getty
What do you think of Whoopi Goldberg’s story behind her stage name?
Featured image credit: Cindy Ord/Getty
