Staten Island residents continue to flock to a local bakery that “The View” co-host Whoopi Goldberg criticized last week, alleging that the business may have denied her sweets due to her political beliefs.
Thousands of sweet-toothed customers flocked to Holtermann’s Bakery — one of the oldest bakeries in NYC — to show support for the beloved Staten Island establishment after Goldberg told a national audience that the business denied her order “perhaps” because of her politics.
Goldberg celebrated her 69th birthday during the Nov. 13 episode of “The View,” in front of a spread of Charlotte Russe desserts when she claimed that a local bakery would not make the tiny sponge-cake treats because the owner “perhaps did not like” her politics.
The host continued, “Charlotte Russe has no political leanings, and the place that made these refused to make them for me. ” One of her co-hosts spit out the dessert she was eating, seeming appalled by the statement.
Jill Holtermann, owner of the 145-year-old Holtermann’s Bakery, denied the allegations and says she could not fill the order because of a broken boiler earlier in the month.
Fast-forward to Nov. 13, when, according to news reports including Entertainment Weekly, a woman picked up about 50 Charlotte Russe delights at around 7:30 a.m.
According to the news outlet, Holtermann was able to make the last-minute order but did not want to commit to it ahead of time due to the shop’s equipment issues.
Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella joined other community leaders, including Holtermann, at a Nov. 15 press conference to support the mainstay establishment.
“The Holtermann family has committed their life to Staten Island, to this community,” Fossella said. “It is respected, it’s hard-working, its perseverance. And recently, someone took to the national airwaves and defamed, frankly, this wonderful family that represents a wonderful business.”
Holtermann said she has been getting messages of support from places as far away as Alabama.
“I’m so overwhelmed by the support. People from all over supporting us in every way,” she said. “I know how hard my family has worked to keep this business alive, and I wish my father was here to see this.”
Fossella said that the reason the bakery could not fulfill the order was due to a faulty boiler.
“They had a boiler that was 60 or 70 years old, and the first week of November, guess what, it went on the fritz. It had to be replaced. The reputation of Holtermann’s is impeccable, so rather than commit to something they couldn’t guarantee, they said they can’t do it. And the person who defamed them took that as an insult to her. Well, get over it.”
Fossella then doubled down, saying that an apology was in order for the Holtermanns.
“The people who defamed the Holtermann family should apologize to the Holtermann family for making stuff up,” the beep said.
amNewYork Metro reached out to ABC, which airs “The View” to ask for a comment, but did not get a response.
