Whoopi Goldberg Slams DeRay For Claiming 'Planet Of Apes' Mocks Him

Whoopi Goldberg slammed activist DeRay McKesson on “The View” for claiming War For The Planet Of The Apes is racist. 

In since-deleted tweets, McKesson tweeted the movie’s poster with a circle around an ape in a blue jacket, along with a figurine of the same character. “Given the history of rendering black people as apes, I’m offended & appalled by the lack of consciousness in Hollywood,” he wrote, adding, “In associating black people with apes, active work is being done to perpetuate the dehumanization of black people in mass media.”

He seemed to be suggesting that the blue jacket-wearing ape was reminiscent of him, as during his work with the Black Lives Matter movement, he became known for wearing a blue vest. In fact, another black activist, Tariq Nasheed, made the same comparison. He tweeted, “Does the new Planet of the Apes poster have racially coded messages? Notice the #BlackLivesMatter symbolism. Notice the ape with the blue vest.”

Goldberg, however, shut down that line of thinking on the ABC talk show, and didn’t hold back while taking McKesson to task. “DeRay, you need to go back and watch the 1968 original and check out what the apes were wearing. This has nothing to do with you,” she said into the camera as the original blue costume was shown. “This was a movie about what happens when mankind doesn’t pay attention to the environment, to how we treat animals and each other. That’s what that movie was about… Get over yourself!”

Sunny Hostin tried to defend McKesson. “I know DeRay. I think he’s done incredible work as a social activist. I’m still confused as to what his tweets actually meant,” she said, trying to make the case that he did have some kind of valid point. “Is it possible?” she asked. Goldberg shot back, “No, it’s not. And don’t play that with this movie. That’s not what this movie was about.”

“It has nothing to do with him. It has nothing to do with black people,” Goldberg went on, telling McKesson. “You’re doing great stuff. Don’t screw it up by doing something dumb.” She further urged, “DeRay, come on over. Explain your behind.” He quickly caught wind of her comments on the live broadcast, tweeting right after, “.@WhoopiGoldberg, if you have something to say, I’m here.”

He then tweeted, “Now, with the #PlanetOfTheApes poster & toy, I was contacted by folks within Hollywood who thought there was an issue, hence those tweets. After speaking with even more people about the history of the film, I deleted the tweets.” Watch “The View” video above.

Photo: YouTube/IdolxNews