Whoopi Goldberg unveils gossip-busting tactics on 'The View' as she reveals betrayal by fake friends

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: During a recent episode of 'The View', co-host Whoopi Goldberg stirred up a lively discussion on the repercussions of gossip and her strategic approach to dealing with fake friends.

Goldberg, 68, known for her breakthrough roles in the early '80s, shared her candid thoughts on the toll that rumors and speculation can take on the lives of public figures.

Challenging the harmlessness of gossip

The 'Sister Act' star didn't mince words as she engaged in a heated exchange on the show, shutting down co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin's suggestion that gossip can be harmless.

"There's no such thing!" the mother-of-one fumed, before she explained how back in the day "you used to be able to rip up the newspapers," before adding: "Now once it's out there, it's there."

Confronting co-hosts

"Researchers claim it can help people collaborate better as a group and give the gossipers social power and provide useful information about someone as long as the gossip is honest," Whoopi read out with a rather sarcastic look on her face.

"What do you think?" Joy, 81, asked her as Whoopi quickly replied, "I don't do it."

Goldberg didn't stop there; she also confronted co-host Sunny Hostin, who admitted to enjoying a bit of "tea." Goldberg, asserting her distaste for personal gossip, reminded Hostin, "But you don't like tea being about you!"

The Academy Award winner aimed to make her stance on gossip unequivocally clear.

Dissecting a gossip study

As the panel, including Joy Behar, delved into a study claiming an 'upside to being a gossip,' Goldberg maintained her disapproval. Reading out the research findings with a touch of sarcasm, she dismissed the idea outright. When asked about her own gossip habits, 

"Well it depends on what you find as gossip," she said. "Like you know, 'guess who is sleeping with so and so', is gossip or 'I don't like how she's wearing her hair...'" but Whoopi fired back, "I don't like that either!"

Debunking different types of gossip

Joy Behar attempted to delve into the nuances of gossip, but Goldberg remained firm, stating that she dislikes all forms of gossip. Alyssa Farah Griffin suggested the existence of "fun, harmless gossip" and "mean-spirited."

"There's fun, harmless gossip and then there's mean-spirited...", to which Goldberg firmly responded, "There's no such thing!"

Goldberg's personal experience

The conversation took a personal turn as Goldberg revealed how she has been burned by gossip multiple times. She expressed her discomfort with others sharing her personal details without consent, highlighting the challenges faced by famous individuals and their families when falsehoods are spread.

"It's really tough on people, it's tough on their kids. Listen, because people don't think of famous people as being human or having feelings, or their kids having feelings, or what you have to deal with when there is a lie that's been told...Because you can't take lies back now. You used to be able to rip up the papers, and the newspapers, but now once it's out there, it's there."

Unmasking fake friends

Alyssa shared, "You know what I like to do? I like to try to catch a gossip. You can plant false information and see if it makes it's way around," to which Whoopi acknowledged, "We have done that. We did that to see who was talking," a move Alyssa commended as "smart."

"Now, you see, that's a little bit of gossip I would like to know about!" Sunny playfully remarked, while Joy quipped, "She doesn't gossip so you'll never find out!"

"But you do!"Joy humorously responded, and Whoopi added, "I'm sworn to secrecy, and I'm sacred of both of you now!"