During the October 6, 2025 episode of The View, co-host Whoopi Goldberg made a controversial suggestion that Super Bowl attendees consider darkening their skin and speaking with a Latin accent, ostensibly to confound immigration enforcement efforts by Governor Kristi Noem or ICE.
The conversation followed comments by The View co-host Joy Behar referring to Noem’s stated intention to deploy ICE at the upcoming Super Bowl, especially considering that Bad Bunny, a Puerto Rican artist, will be the halftime performer. Behar raised questions about whether ICE would target certain attendees based on appearance or accent.
In response, Goldberg said:
“Everybody, get a little cocoa butter, sit in the sun, that’s the first thing… and then — and this is the only time you can probably ever do this — give yourself a Latin accent, and just see if she can tell who’s who.” The Daily Beast+3New York Post+3EW.com+3
Her suggestion was framed in a satirical tone, but it has drawn widespread criticism for encouraging mimicry of racial and linguistic traits. Some view the comments as an attempt at political protest or provocation, while others see them as offensive and inappropriate.
Noem had previously stated that ICE would be vigilant at the Super Bowl, warning that those attending should “be law-abiding Americans.”
In reaction to Goldberg’s remarks, several commentators and public figures called them “tone-deaf” and raised concerns about racial sensitivity and the implications of suggesting “brown face” as a tactic
As of now, no public statement has been released by Noem or ICE specifically in response to Goldberg’s comments. The discourse adds another layer to ongoing debates about race, immigration enforcement, and public protest.
