Overview

• On June 18, Goldberg and Alyssa Farah Griffin locked horns on The View when Griffin cited Iran’s execution of LGBTQ+ people and strict dress codes, prompting Goldberg to insist conditions for Black Americans were equally dire.
• Griffin and co-hosts emphasized that Iranian women and LGBTQ+ individuals face state-sanctioned violence, torture and capital punishment under theocratic laws.
• The remark “Not if you’re Black” sparked swift backlash across media and social platforms, with many labeling the comparison factually inaccurate and offensive.
• Iranian-American surgeon Sheila Nazarian and commentator Guy Benson publicly called on ABC to address Goldberg’s comments and correct what they described as misleading parallels.
• The exchange has reinvigorated debates over racial disparities in the U.S., global human rights standards and the on-screen responsibility of media figures to handle sensitive topics with precision.