A Surprising Issue Whoopi Goldberg Has with American Idol

As the saying goes, tastes differ. However, it's quite rare for someone to critique a widely acclaimed cultural institution.

In a recent episode of ABC's The View, Whoopi Goldberg criticised a show that has become a staple of American television over its two-decade run. While discussing Netflix's latest documentary, Anna Nicole Smith: You Don't Know Me, the renowned actress and TV personality referred to American Idol as the 'downfall of society'.

Whoopi Goldberg explained her perspective on the detrimental effects of reality television on individuals. She believes such shows misguide viewers into questioning their identities and life choices. In the case of American Idol, the Ghost actress has some very specific grievances.

Goldberg took issue with the judgemental nature of the iconic singing competition. She posited that such shows promote an overly critical attitude among viewers.

'Once we gave people the ability to judge other people, I think, we ran amuck with it. They [such shows] invite the public to decide who that person was. And I feel, it [got] us in a cycle,' Whoopi Goldberg told The View's hosts.

Although her argument may seem somewhat hyperbolic, it does hold some validity. Indeed, when American Idol first premiered on Fox, the format and the judges were markedly different. Simon Cowell, a panel member during the show's early years, is particularly infamous for his blunt critiques. He never refrained from telling the contestants on the show what he thought was wrong with them and their performances, always speaking with an air of authority as if his were the final judgement.

However, since its move to ABC, the same network that produces The View, American Idol has undergone some significant changes. The show now emphasises fostering talent and highlighting contestants' strengths.

'We support them. We nurture them. We give them constructive criticism,' Katy Perry, the regular judge on the ABC revival of Idol, said.

At the end of the day, while Goldberg's view of American Idol may be somewhat outdated, she is entitled to her own opinion, and it has to be said she knows how to make a compelling argument.

Source: YouTube.