A historic New York bakery has denied accusations by actress and talk show host Whoopi Goldberg that it refused to fulfill her birthday dessert order due to her political views, attributing the situation instead to equipment issues.
Goldberg celebrated her 69th birthday on Wednesday’s episode of The View with a round of Charlotte Russe desserts. While enjoying the treats, Goldberg refrained from naming the bakery, claiming they had initially declined her request for political reasons.
Holtermann’s Bakery, a Staten Island establishment known for its classic desserts, was identified by Entertainment Weekly thanks to the distinctive packaging seen during the broadcast. Bakery owner Jill Holtermann confirmed Goldberg’s order but rejected the notion that political bias played any role in the situation. Instead, Holtermann pointed to ongoing problems with the bakery’s equipment.
“They asked us [about the order], but we were having trouble with our boilers,” Holtermann explained, noting that Goldberg initially requested the desserts for two separate dates, including her birthday episode. “I didn’t want to make a commitment I couldn’t carry through because of the uncertainty with our equipment.”
Holtermann emphasized that while she couldn’t confirm the orders ahead of time, she was ultimately able to prepare the desserts, which were picked up early Wednesday morning. She added that the individual collecting the treats did not disclose any affiliation with Goldberg or The View.
Operating in a nearly 100-year-old building, Holtermann said equipment malfunctions are not uncommon. “I told Whoopi, ‘I can’t do it right now. We have so many things going on with my boiler,’” she explained. “It had nothing to do with politics.”
Despite multiple attempts, representatives for The View did not comment on the matter. Goldberg, however, addressed the controversy in an Instagram video, expressing confusion over the bakery’s response.
“There’s been a lot of talk about the dessert I requested for my birthday show,” Goldberg said. “I never mentioned the name of the bakery, or the location. But it does seem odd that when we called weeks ahead, they said they couldn’t process the order due to an equipment failure. Yet, they were able to fulfill a similar order when someone else called without using my name.”
Goldberg concluded her video on a positive note, saying she had a “delicious dessert” and a “happy, sweet birthday.”
During Wednesday’s live broadcast, Goldberg shared her personal connection to the dessert, calling Charlotte Russe a favorite of her late mother. “It’s a sponge cake with whipped cream and a cherry on top,” she explained to her cohosts. While discussing the bakery’s refusal to initially take her order, she speculated it might be related to her political leanings but ultimately downplayed the issue.
“This is about celebrating my mom,” Goldberg said. “Pick these up and celebrate with me.”
As the controversy continues, Holtermann maintains that her decision was purely logistical, reaffirming, “It was not because of politics.”
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