The View host Whoopi Goldberg defended the widely criticized series Star Trek: Starfleet Academy on Wednesday, saying the Star Trek franchise has always been progressive.
The latest installment in the “Star Trek” franchise is facing mounting backlash from fans who say it has become “woke,” even as many critics are praising the new show and studio executives have already approved a second season. Goldberg, who starred in “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” mocked how conservatives are complaining about the new show in 2026, noting, like other actors involved with the show, that the franchise has always been socially liberal.
“These people are talking about a TV show,” Goldberg said of American conservatives, summarizing that figures like Stephen Miler and Elon Musk “are complaining that the show has become ‘woke’.”
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Goldberg then played a clip of one of the show’s stars, Gina Yashere, defending the franchise during a CNN appearance and agreeing with the claim that creator Gene Roddenberry was focused on the ideas of inclusivity and diversity, arguing that “Star Trek” has been “woke since day one, and woke is a good word.”
“As a member of the Starfleet Academy, please allow me to respond as well,” Goldberg said, referring to her own time as part of the franchise. “If you’ve never slept, you can’t wake up. See? This was a show that was made with the idea that people would come from other planets, and we would all find a way to coexist. This was Gene’s idea, this was his dream, and when you watch ‘Star Trek,’ that’s what it shows you.”
“Here’s the thing,” Goldberg said. “Why are you focusing on a television program when people are being shot and killed, when people are going hungry, when farmers are losing their farms and children can’t get meals at school. Why are you paying attention to this?”
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Actress Whoopi Goldberg, who has been part of the Star Trek franchise in the past, argued that the show has always been socially liberal. (Cindy Ord/Getty Images for Tribeca Festival)
The star further suggested that politicians should focus on doing their job while entertainers do theirs.
“Star Trek: Starfleet Academy” premiered last week on Paramount+ to relatively high reviews from critics, including an 87% “Certified Fresh” score on Rotten Tomatoes. But the audience’s scores suggest a much more divided response, although the show could fall victim to the worse score due to coordinated “watch bombings.”
Indeed, Star Trek is known for its emphasis on liberal diversity and pluralism. As a culture website Polygon summarized, “When the original series launched in 1967, in the midst of the Cold War and America’s civil rights movement, the idea of a crew featuring a black woman and a Russian man represented a radical vision of the future. In addition to breaking barriers with television’s first interracial kiss, Star Trek regularly poked fun at bigotry with episodes like ‘Let That Be Your Last Battlefield,’ which depicted a war between people who divide themselves based on which side of their face is black and which side is white.”
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The series has faced backlash from fans for perceived “woke” content, even as critics have given strong reviews and ratings have declined amid the ongoing debates. (Screenshot/Paramount+ Youtube)
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