Whoopi Goldberg asserted that American Idol marked the beginning of society’s decline.
The 67-year-old co-host of The View is no stranger to expressing her opinion on the show; her most recent remarks were prompted by a discussion on the popularity of reality television.
As the women discussed why Netflix recently “dwelt” on the final days of Anna Nicole Smith in a new documentary, Whoopi stated that she believes audiences watch these types of shows because “people like to be judgmental.”
‘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 went on to provide a specific example of when she believed that people had become preoccupied with passing judgement.
‘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 that the show she was attempting to recall was American Idol, he reminded her that it also broadcast on the same network as their programme, but Whoopi did not appear to mind.
‘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?’
This week, the most recent season of the reality TV series, which first broadcast in 2002, concluded with the announcement of Iam Tongi as the winner.
The current panel of judges consists of country vocalist Luke Bryan, R&B icon Lionel Richie, and musical star Katy Perry; however, Perry has been criticised several times since joining the panel.
During this season, she was criticised for’mum-shaming’ one contestant, who subsequently departed the show, and for telling another contestant to ‘have more grace’ after an altercation with another contestant.
The View airs on ABC in the US.
Source My Celebrity Life.