Whoopi Goldberg Defended Tiger Woods After Infidelity Scandal in 2009
Whoopi Goldberg has made it known that she supports Tiger Woods following his car accident and subsequent DUI arrest in 2026. In a now viral response to Woods’ legal trouble, she noted that she doesn’t want to “kick” someone when they’re down. Now, we’re taking a look back at the time when Goldberg defended Woods following his infidelity scandal in 2009. Here’s what she said on The View.
Whoopi Goldberg came to Tiger Woods’ defense on ‘The View’ in 2009 following his infidelity scandal
Tiger Woods’s infidelity scandal became one of the most publicized moments in sports history. The chaos unfolded in late 2009 after outlets reported that Woods had multiple extramarital affairs. The revelations quickly dominated headlines, leading to intense media scrutiny and speculation about his personal life.
In response, Woods issued a public apology. He admitted to infidelity and announced that he would take an indefinite leave from the PGA Tour to focus on personal rehabilitation and marriage counseling. The scandal had immediate professional consequences. He lost sponsorship deals with major brands, including Gatorade, according to NBC News, and his image suffered long-term reputational damage. Woods’ then-wife, Elin Nordegren, filed for divorce in 2010. The couple finalized their split later that year.
In 2009, Whoopi Goldberg and The View co-hosts discussed Woods’ infidelity. According to Mediaite, Goldberg introduced the segment but then stayed quiet as her co-hosts discussed the situation. Goldberg then said she was “bored out of my gourd” when discussing the topic. “I brought it up because we all decided that’s something we wanted to talk about,” she added.
“Again, I just think it’s really interesting that he said, ‘Look, OK, I’m not perfect, but leave me alone,'” Goldberg noted of Woods during the segment, as seen in a YouTube clip.
“Whatever he’s talking about, the bottom line is, you know, yeah, you’re in the public eye. But you’re not — who was with us the other day — who said, I’m not Jesus Christ,” Goldberg said toward the end of the clip. “If I’m doing whatever I’m doing, that’s my business. There are certain things that I have the right to say, you know what, get away from me. One of the things that you cannot put on other people … because you see me as a role model doesn’t mean that I’m your role model.”
“This is for me one of those subjects where people demanding that you live up to their expectations is outrageous,” she defended.
‘The View’ co-host defended the golf star again in 2026 following his DUI charge and car crash
Tiger Woods was involved in a significant traffic incident on March 27, 2026. His Land Rover SUV was in a rollover crash on Jupiter Island, Florida, near his home. Authorities said Woods’ vehicle clipped a pickup truck while he was attempting to overtake it. This caused the SUV to roll onto its side. No serious injuries were reported.
Law enforcement noted signs of impairment at the scene and arrested Woods on suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI), property damage, and refusal to submit to a lawful urine test after a breathalyzer showed a 0.00 alcohol level. The police report described bloodshot, glassy eyes and dilated pupils. Two loose hydrocodone pills were found on him, though Woods later pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor DUI charge.
Whoopi Goldberg and her co-hosts on The View discussed the accident. Goldberg noted that others were “not as compassionate” about the golf star’s arrest.
“Tiger is a friend of mine, and I wish him nothing but the best,” Goldberg said. “I don’t like kicking a man when he’s down. I’ll leave that to other folks.”
