At 68, Whoopi Goldberg Endures Attacks About Her Looks But Doesn’t Try To Hide Her ‘Swollen’ Feet Or Gray Hair

Jun 21, 2023 by apost team

Whoopi Goldberg is a renowned actress, comedian, author and television personality. The star was born on Nov. 13, 1955, in New York City, New York, with the name Caryn Elaine Johnson. She started her career when she was quite young, embarking on the stage back in 1983 with a one-woman show that was later on Broadway. It ran until 1985 and earned Goldberg a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album for the show’s recording.

It wasn’t surprising to see Goldberg transition to film. She has starred in many movies, including “The Color Purple,” which earned her a Golden Globe. She is also known for her role in the star-studded romantic fantasy film “Ghost,” which also featured Demi Moore and the late Patrick Swayze. Of course, though, Goldberg’s comedy is what has made her so legendary, and her reprising role in the comedies “Sister Act” and “Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit” helped her become one of the highest-paid actresses at the time.

The entertainer, who is also a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, is also known for being a talk show host as she is one of the co-hosts on “The View.” As part of her job, Goldberg expresses herself on a variety of topics of conversation, including pop culture, celebrity gossip and even her own experiences.

Outside of her many jobs, Goldberg has also been interviewed, allowing her to share her opinions even more. It seems like Goldberg has joined the many female celebrities who are embracing the aging process. As a woman in her late 60s, she is proud to flaunt her gray hair and has joked about the ups and downs that come with growing older.

Whoopi Goldberg (2019), (Dominik Bindl/Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images for Tribeca TV Festival)

Over the years, Goldberg has never shied away from speaking her mind. In an interview with The New York Times, she opened up about why she prefers to remain unmarried.

“I’m much happier on my own. I can spend as much time with somebody as I want to spend, but I’m not looking to be with somebody forever or live with someone.”

She went on to say that she’s not interested in marriage, and added, “I don’t want somebody in my house.” Goldberg was married three times, starting with her marriage to Alvin Martin, which lasted six years. The pair also share a daughter. However, Goldberg went on to marry two more times before calling it quits in 1995.

“I’d be thinking, why don’t I feel the thing that I’m supposed to? Then one day I thought: I don’t have to do this. I don’t have to conform. I tried marriage, and it wasn’t for me. You can’t be in a marriage because everybody’s expecting you to,” Goldberg told the daily.

In 2014, she told the Oprah Winfrey Network that she believed she was "not a good marrying person.”

Marriage isn’t the only thing that doesn’t seem to be in Goldberg’s future. Speaking with Piers Morgan for CNN in 2011, the entertainer talked about regrets. “I only really have one really major regret,” she said. “And it was I had the opportunity to spend a birthday with Sammy Davis Jr. and I didn’t.” She elaborated: 

“I was young and dumb and – and he passed like a couple of weeks later. And it devastated me because I thought, you know what, that’s what you get. I just remember that he had been so good to me. And we were really, you know, good friends…”

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Whoopi Goldberg (2018), (Christopher Polk/Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images)

Having made a long career in an industry where youth and conventional beauty are heavily lauded, Goldberg is no stranger to criticism, particularly about her looks. In one example, Goldberg posted an Instagram video on June 29, 2022, speaking innocuously about getting a text from a friend about an event. However, that didn’t stop trolls from leaving unsolicited and hurtful comments about the star.

“A perfect example of someone that has not aged well,” one comment read while another user said, “Did someone poop on your head?” 

A third user wrote, “Look at this dude,” while another wrote, “Go away gross man....” Others called her “clown” and told her it was “time to retire,” while other comments read, “You remind me of ‘Donkey’ from ‘Shrek,’” and “Maybe you should exercise!”

Users were just as cruel over another photo Goldberg posted on Instagram in December 2020, in which she sports white hair. 

“This person looks disturbing 👿,” one commenter said, while another wrote, “Nightmares are made of this woman.” 

A third user remarked, “Wow she looks like a caveman,” as others urged her to “get canceled.” 

However, some of her fans stood up for her against her critics. One user came to Goldberg’s defense and wrote:

“I’ve never seen such hate and evil on a single post! What is wrong with you people??”

It comes as no surprise that, as a person in the public eye, Goldberg would garner so much criticism from strangers, an unfortunate reality for many who have found it to be part of the territory once you become famous. Yet, Goldberg remains unphased by the vitriol and has taken the attacks on her looks in stride.

Whoopi Goldberg (2017), (Steve Granitz/WireImage via Getty Images)

Despite the barrage of personal attacks from strangers and anonymous individuals online, Goldberg has shown to have an optimistic outlook on life. She once joked in a video posted to her YouTube channel, “Every time I try to avoid becoming a lil’ old lady, I realize I’m getting closer to being a lil’ old lady.” She then listed off all the things she thought made her so.

“I have one cat. I have a dog now. I have a dog that needs help. I have grandchildren. I have great-grandchildren. I’m a freakin’ lil’ old lady!” she exclaimed.

She also revealed that one of the top signs that she had reached this new phase of her life was realizing that she always had “swollen” feet.

While appearing on “The View,” Goldberg flaunted her gray hair while the women discussed the double standard men and women face when it comes to aging naturally. She said she was growing out her gray hair, and added, “I don’t mind the gray.” In fact, Goldberg said it helped “soften up” other features.

Speaking with Insider, Goldberg shared:

“I didn't have the same problems a beautiful actress has. I don't have to worry about it. My stuff's going to sag and fall and I will be fine. My chest is gonna do what it does. I can age the way I age."

Goldberg has clearly embraced the aging process as she released a self-help book called “Two Old Broads,” with the help of co-author M.E. Hecht. The book was described as telling “it like it is for all of us who left middle age in the dust and want to be present, positive, and as extraordinary as ever in our golden years.”

What do you think about Whoopi Goldberg joking about the process of aging naturally? Are you inspired by her optimistic outlook? Let us know, and be sure to pass this along to your loved ones.

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