“The View” censors Whoopi Goldberg during on-air discussion about Bill Gates and Jeffrey Epstein

The Viewhas continued itslong tradition of cutting its cohosts' audiolive on the air.

Whoopi Goldbergseemed to be censored on Thursday's episode of the talk show when she appeared to use a vulgar word to refer to the male anatomy as the panel discussedBill Gatesand the Jeffrey Epstein files.

The moment came as the Hot Topics table reacted to developments amid the slow release of the Epstein files, including billionaire Gates' alleged connections to the convicted sex offender (who died in prison in 2019)after the former's name appeared throughout case documentsrecentlyreleased by the Justice Department.

"Bill Gates apologized to his staff and admitted he had affairs with Russian women and didn't do anything illicit," the show's guest cohost, CNBC news anchor Sara Eisen, said during the segment, with Joy Behar adding, "It's not good, but they're not children."

Eisen later pointed out the alleged "incredible hold that Jeffrey Epstein had over" tech titans and billionaires mentioned in the files. "These are not vulnerable people. They relied on him," she said, noting that "there are a lot of questions there."

Goldberg then cut in to say she's "not surprised" by Gates' alleged connection to Epstein.

"We see this all the time. People who are very, very powerful will look for the person who's more powerful than them. It just happens," the EGOT-winning actress said. "That's why you always hear about the guys that you never see but they've got the money and they're taking care of a lot of folks."

"The question still remains: Why did they give him that much money?" former federal prosecutorSunny Hostinasked later in the discussion, with Goldberg replying, "Because he had him by the — " just before her audio cut out for a few moments.

Advertisement

Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with ourEW Dispatch newsletter.

Hostin then reminded her cohosts that the Gates Foundation "has denied giving any money to Jeffrey Epstein," but Goldberg didn't relent.

"Listen, when you give your power over to somebody, when you give people power over your being, they can use it however they want to, convince you to do anything," she said. "You don't want to take the chance that they do have it. So you pay them."

Hostin again told Goldberg, "We're not implying that that happened."

According to theThe Wall Street Journal, Gates said in a Feb. 24 Gates Foundation town hall, "I did nothing illicit. I saw nothing illicit."

A spokesperson for Gates later toldEntertainment Weekly's sister publication,PEOPLE, "This was a scheduled town hall with employees, which Bill does twice a year. In the conversation, Bill answered questions submitted by foundation staff on a range of issues, including the release of the Epstein files, the foundation's work in AI, and the future of global health. In the town hall, Bill spoke candidly, addressing several questions in detail, and took responsibility for his actions."

EW has reached out to representatives for Gates at the Gates Foundation for comment.

The Viewairs weekdays on ABC.

Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

byVaclav Urich

in

February 26, 2026

“The View” censors Whoopi Goldberg during on-air discussion about Bill Gates and Jeffrey Epstein

The Viewhas continued itslong tradition of cutting its cohosts' audiolive on the air. Whoopi Goldbergsee...

Read More

Judge scolds Shia LaBeouf and orders him to rehab after Mardi Gras arrest

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A New Orleans judge ordered actorShia LaBeoufto return to drug and alcohol rehabilitation and set a $100,000 bond Thursday after the film star was charged with two counts of batteryover an alleged assaultoutside a bar during Mardi Gras.

CORRECTION Shia LaBeouf-Arrest

LaBeouf, who appeared in court wearing a fleece jacket and jeans tucked into cowboy boots, was also admonished by the judge forallegedly yelling homophobic slurswhile hitting multiple people near the French Quarter. The police report said LaBeouf dislocated one victim's nose.

The judge ordered LaBeouf, 39, to submit to weekly drug tests, including one on the spot in the courthouse. LaBeouf agreed and his attorney said the test did not show illegal substances in his system.

Orleans Parish Criminal Court Judge Simone Levine called the episode earlier this month a concern for "the safety of this larger community, especially relative to a marginalized community that has gone through so much terror," referring to the LGBTQ+ community.

"This defendant does not take his alcohol addiction seriously," Levine said. "This court does not believe he understands the level of seriousness when it comes to these allegations."

LaBeouf posted bond and declined to comment to reporters. He has not yet formally entered a plea to the charges.

"No, I won't say a word," he said in a court hallway while returning from taking a drug and alcohol test before the judge's order. "God bless you, leave me alone."

Jeffrey Damnit, a local entertainer identified in the police report as Jeffrey Klein, previously told The Associated Press that LaBeouf repeatedly punched him and used homophobic slurs while threatening his life. Damnit said he believed LaBeouf had targeted him because he wore makeup and eyeliner.

Advertisement

"This guy wants me to be dead because I wear makeup," Damnit said. "It's a screwed-up thing."

The judge said that when she originally released LaBeouf without bond within hours of his arrest on Feb. 17 she had not previously had access to a police report that describes the actor allegedly using homophobic slurs as he returned to a bar and hit people with a closed fist after being asked to leave. Videos of the altercations have surfaced showing LaBeouf striking multiple people.

After LaBeouf was released from custody, the actor was seen in the French Quarter dancing in the streets on Mardi Gras.

Levine ordered LaBeouf to stay away from the victims and the bar where the episode occurred.

The judge denied a request by LaBeouf to travel to Rome in March for "religious observations, including his father's baptism."

Levine said during the hearing that she was concerned whether LaBeouf "could handle his alcohol."

"Frankly," LaBeouf's attorney Sarah Chervinsky told the judge, "being drunk on Mardi Gras is not a crime." ___

Brook is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative.Report for Americais a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

byVaclav Urich

in

February 26, 2026

Judge scolds Shia LaBeouf and orders him to rehab after Mardi Gras arrest

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A New Orleans judge ordered actorShia LaBeoufto return to drug and alcohol rehabilitation and set a $...

Read More

Sarah Michelle Gellar remembers Michelle Trachtenberg on anniversary of her death: 'I'm not sure how it's been a year'

It's been one year since Michelle Trachtenberg's death, and Sarah Michelle Gellar is honoring her onscreen sister.

Trachtenbergdied at 39 on Feb. 27, 2025, from complications related to diabetes. She portrayed Gellar's younger sister, Dawn Summers, onBuffy the Vampire Slayer, which ran for seven seasons from 1997 to 2003. Trachtenberg joined the show during its fifth season in 2000 and remained until its series finale.

"I'm not sure how it's been a year," Gellar wrote in an Instagram post Thursday, on the anniversary of Trachtenberg's death. "I'm one of the lucky ones who has over 30 years of memories with you. From our first day on set together, to less than a year later, when you were already taller than me."

Gellar recalled first working with Trachtenberg onAll My Childrenand watching her "become a star" with her work onHarriet the Spy.

"You were great to my kids," Gellar wrote. "Countless kids bdays you attended even though I'm sure you had somewhere cooler to be."

She added: "But most of all, when I think of you, that smile that took up your entire face and brought so much joy to others is what comes to mind. You may not have been with us long enough, but we will make sure everyone remembers."

Advertisement

This isn't the first time theCruel Intentionsstar has paid tribute to Trachtenberg. Upon learning that the actor had died, Gellarposted a photoof them onBuffy, alongside a quote fromthe Season 5 finale. Last October, Gellar alsoposted a messagefor Trachtenberg on what would've been her 40th birthday.

"When you turned 16, it was hard not to still see you as the little girl I met on All My Children," Gellar wrote on Instagram. "When you turned 21, I had to teach myself to not see you as the little sister anymore. I can't imagine what 40 would have been like. This I know… it would be filled with love."

While she's deeply beloved byBuffyfans, Trachtenberg's career extended well beyond the supernatural series. In addition to appearing in films likeEurotripand17 Again, Trachtenberg left a lasting impression as the titular, astute child detective inHarriet the Spy. She is also widely celebrated for her portrayal ofGeorgina Sparks, a villainous Upper West Side socialite onGossip Girl.

"[Georgina] was actually my favorite character I've played because she's such an evil b-i-t-c-h, that it was fun," TrachtenbergtoldEntertainment Tonightin 2021.

Trachtenberg also played Casey Carlyle, a studious teen who chooses to pursue her dream of becoming a figure skater, in 2005'sIce Princess. News of Trachtenberg's death sent ripples through the figure skating community on TikTok. Several figure skaters on the video-sharing platform credit Trachtenberg's performance inIce Princessfor inspiring themto pursue a career in the sport.

One year after her death, fans have taken to social media to celebrate Trachtenberg's legacy. Photos throughout Trachtenberg's career are being shared on X, while TikTok users aresharing fan editsthey've created of the late actor.

"1 year ago today we lost the beautiful and talented Michelle Trachtenberg, such a huge loss! She will always be remembered! RIP,"one fan wrote on X, whileanother added, "I've been seeing it all over my timeline today that it's already been 1 year since Michelle Trachtenberg passed away. I'm still shocked she's gone. My 1st rewatch of 'Buffy' Season 5 since then hit different. She was far too young."

byVaclav Urich

in

February 26, 2026

Sarah Michelle Gellar remembers Michelle Trachtenberg on anniversary of her death: 'I'm not sure how it's been a year'

It's been one year since Michelle Trachtenberg's death, and Sarah Michelle Gellar is honoring her onscreen siste...

Read More