A squabble involving the legendary Holtermann's Bakery on Staten Island and "The View" co-host Whoopi Goldberg has got tongues wagging—not over a new recipe but due to a dismissed dessert order that might have been about more than just cake. The beloved TV personality turned 69 and wanted to celebrate with a New York specialty, Charlotte Russe cakes, reportedly her mother's favorite. However, what was meant to be a sweet tribute on the November 13 episode of the show turned slightly sour as Goldberg suggested the bakery declined her order over her political leanings.
The incident, which Goldberg shared with her audience, has since had the owner of the 145-year-old bakery, Jill Holtermann, stepping out to clear the air, explaining that the refusal to fulfill Goldberg's request was not due to politics, but rather a malfunctioning boiler that threw the shop's capabilities into uncertainty, this was according to New York Daily News. Despite the building's 1930s origins and the unpredictable nature of antiquated equipment Goldberg's cakes were indeed ready for pick-up on the morning of the show without prior confirmation, perhaps highlighting a miscommunication rather than a political snub.
In her address on the daytime talk show, Goldberg noted, "Now, I should tell you, Charlotte Russe has no political leanings, and the place that made these refused to make them for me," adding a jab towards the bakery's owners with a mention of her politics being the cause, as detailed in a report by New York Post. The statement set off a wave of speculation, leading many to wonder whether there was a deeper reason behind the declined confectionary request.
Holtermann in her explanation highlighted the bakery's predicament to Entertainment Weekly, saying, "I said to Whoopi, 'I can't do it right now,' 'We have so many things going on with my boiler,' because the building is from 1930, when she called me, I had no idea [if we could] be baking everything;" indeed, the technical trouble cast doubt on the bakery's ability to meet orders and commitments, that’s something any small business owner would balk at, not necessarily a snub to Goldberg specifically.
In the end, the Charlotte Russe cakes were procured and displayed on-air for Goldberg's birthday, though the source of those desserts should have remained a mystery, the iconic white paper cups with pink polka dots were unmistakable, tipping off viewers to their Holtermann’s origin. Despite the unfortunate mix-up, and its potential misinterpretation as a political blockade, Holtermann proclaimed to New York Daily News, "I just want to run my business," which seems to be an echo of many small business owners' sentiment amidst today's charged political atmosphere.
