Whoopi Goldberg on retirement: “I can’t afford it” on The View
TL;DR:
- Whoopi told ET she “can’t afford” to retire, despite decades in TV and film.
- She joked about not “marrying well,” adding she still has bills to pay.
- Joy Behar also said she is not retiring, saying creative people keep working.
- The comments came as The View launched Season 29 on September 8, 2025.
- Fans debated the money talk, but no exit is planned right now.
Whoopi Goldberg said she is not retiring, and not because she does not want to. In a new on-set chat with Entertainment Tonight, she said she “can’t afford” to retire and still needs to pay her bills. She also joked that if you do not “marry well,” you keep working.
Her remarks arrived as The View returned for Season 29 this week. The long-running ABC talk show is still led by Goldberg with Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, Sara Haines, Alyssa Farah Griffin, and Ana Navarro.
When and where she said it
The interview was published on September 9, 2025. Entertainment Weekly and Yahoo Entertainment also highlighted the exchange, repeating Goldberg’s line about paying bills and Behar’s take on not retiring.
Quick facts table
| Item | Details |
| Interview outlet | Entertainment Tonight, published September 9, 2025. |
| Key quotes | “I’ve got to keep paying those bills,” “If you don’t marry well, you got to keep working.” |
| Co-host view | Joy Behar said creative people do not retire. |
| Show status | The View kicked off Season 29 this week. |
Why her words hit a nerve
Fans see Goldberg as a multi-millionaire with decades of success. Hearing her say she cannot retire sounds jarring at first. But her point was simple, even blunt. Work pays the bills, and she plans to keep working. Entertainment Weekly framed it as a reality check on the costs of stepping away, while Yahoo echoed that she and Behar are not eyeing an exit.
The money debate
Online reactions split fast. Some said her comments ignore her reported wealth. Others said steady income matters, even for stars with past earnings. The Wrap’s write-up underscored that she joined The View in 2007 and has stayed for 18 seasons, a long run that likely funds staff, projects, and family goals. None of that points to a sudden retirement.
What it means for The View
Do not expect a new moderator tomorrow. Goldberg’s comments signal continuity. Season launches are when exit rumors often flare. Here, the on-record message was the opposite. She is staying put, and Behar is too. That gives ABC stability as the show heads into a heavy news cycle.
Context you need
Goldberg, 69, has worked across film, TV, and stage for four decades. She is one of the few EGOT winners. The View has been daytime’s most watched talk show in recent seasons, with a panel built for daily political and culture debates. A steady lead moderator helps maintain tone and pace.
What happens next
Expect more sound bites, not a farewell. The new season is already producing viral clips, and Goldberg’s stance will not quiet interest in the show’s future. If plans change, it will likely come through an ABC or on-air announcement, not rumor. For now, she is working, as she said, to pay the bills.
Editor’s notes and packaging
Fresh angle to lead with
Center the tension between public wealth estimates and personal retirement math. Ask why many high-profile creatives work late into life, then use Goldberg’s lines as the hook. Compare with peers who keep touring or hosting into their 70s and 80s.
Why it matters
Celebrity retirement talk fuels constant churn. Clear statements cut through noise and guide coverage. For viewers, this means The View’s core chair stays filled. For media watchers, it shows how stars frame money, age, and work in plain language.
Mini-checklist: what to include in social copy
- Quote her “bills to pay” line.
- Note the ET interview date.
- Add Behar’s “creative people don’t retire” line.
- Mention The View’s Season 29 start this week.
- Avoid implying a pending exit.
Sources:
- The Wrap, Whoopi Goldberg Says She Can’t Afford to Retire From ‘The View’ Because She Didn’t ‘Marry Well’, https://www.thewrap.com/whoopi-goldberg-cant-afford-the-view-retirement/, September 9, 2025
- Entertainment Weekly, Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar explain why they won’t retire from The View, https://ew.com/the-view-whoopi-goldberg-joy-behar-not-retiring-11806393, September 10, 2025
Yahoo Entertainment (Canada), Whoopi Goldberg says she can’t afford to retire from The View, https://ca.news.yahoo.com/whoopi-goldberg-says-she-t-012611532.html, September 10, 2025
