Whoopi Goldberg has claimed American Idol was the ‘beginning of the downfall of society’.
The View co-host, 67, is no stranger to speaking her mind on the programme, with her latest comments being sparked during a discussion on people’s love for reality TV.
As the women discussed why Netflix had recently ‘dwelled’ on the final days of Anna Nicole Smith in a new documentary, Whoopi said she believed audiences watched these kind of programmes because ‘people like to be judgy’.
‘You have Basketball Wives, you have the Housewives of whatever, all the Bravo shows, giving you the impression that you’re doing something wrong because you’re living your life,’ she explained.
‘People watch these shows because they make them feel better.
‘I think that we, as a society, love to watch stuff to judge folks.’
She then went a step further, offering a specific example as to exactly when she thought people had become wrapped up in passing judgment.
‘You know, I’ve always thought that the beginning of the downfall of society was with, um, what’s the name of that show?’, she asked before turning to a producer.
‘I always tell you that.’
After he replied pointing out the show she was trying to remember was American Idol, he reminded her it also aired on the same network as their programme, however Whoopi didn’t seem to mind too much.
‘Well, it wasn’t always on ABC,’ she said.
She then added: ‘Once we gave people the ability to judge other people, I think we ran amuck with it…and it’s gone out of control.’
‘They invited the public to decide who their person was and I feel once we did that, it began us in a cycle which we have not — did you really just do that?’
Earlier this week the latest season of the reality TV series, which first aired back in 2002, wrapped up with teenager Iam Tongi announced as the winner.
The current judges are country singer Luke Bryan, R&B icon Lionel Richie and popstar Katy Perry, however the latter has found herself under fire a few times since joining the line-up.
This season she was criticised for ‘mum-shaming’ one contestant who later quit the series, as well as telling another she should ‘have more grace’ following a spat with a fellow contestant.
Metro.co.uk has contacted ABC for comment.
The View airs on ABC in the US.
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