I honestly don’t know how Whoopi Goldberg has outlasted almost every panelist on The View with the crazy things that come out of her mouth. How has she remained the moderator of the panel? Whoopi has said some indefensible things over the years. She said Roman Polanski didn’t commit rape-rape. She has defended Mel Gibson and his violent, racist actions. Whoopi also said that Justin Bieber should be excused for his racist videos because the “n” word doesn’t exist in Canada.

The latest Whoopi mess involves her defense of ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, who said that women shouldn’t provoke men into domestic violence. (Whoopi has previously been accused of attacking DV victims by Gloria Allred.) Smith was referencing the case of Ray Rice, who was suspended from the Baltimore Ravens for domestic violence.

You can read Smith’s whole speech here, and it’s a mess. Rice’s defense was that his wife hit him first. Smith agreed that Rice should have been suspended, but he also wanted so stress that people consider “the elements of provocation.” Ugh. He was basically saying that Rice’s wife made him hit her. Smith has since apologized by saying his words were “the most egregious error of my career.” He continued: “I am truly, truly sorry. Particularly the victims of domestic abuse and to my female family members and loved ones … who know I know better. You all deserved a better professional, and quite frankly a better man sitting on this set. My heartfelt apologies. To apologize, to say I’m sorry doesn’t do the proper justice.”

I think Smith’s apology is somewhat sincere. He’s trying to fix his own career, and he realizes that he said terrible, indefensive things. Nothing can change what he said. It’s out there, and media figures like Whoopi are grabbing onto Smith’s previous words like they’re gospel. Here is Whoopi’s take as articulated on The View:

Whoopi’s take: “Don’t be surprised if you hit a man, he hits you back.”

Her rationale: “If you make the choice as a woman who is 4’3″ and you decide to hit a guy who is 6 foot tall and you’re the last thing you want he wants to deal with that day and he hits you back, you cannot be surprised.”

Her excuse: “I know I’m going to catch a lot of hell, and I don’t care. But you have to teach women, do not live with this idea that men have this chivalry thing still with them, don’t assume that that is still in place.”

[From The Wrap]

According to Whoopi, a man must have “this chivalry thing” intact in order for them to not hit a woman. The rest of the panel was aghast at Whoopi’s speech. Even Jenny McCarthy, who is never the voice of reason, tried to interject that a man shouldn’t hit a woman “unless his life is in jeopardy.” The other members of The View sat in stunned silence as Whoopi rambled her verbal diarrhea. Why is everyone else getting canned from The View except for Whoopi? She’s the worst.

Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet & WENN