Whoopi Goldberg, the voice of Shenzi in Disney's 'The Lion King,' has publicly criticized former President Donald Trump for sharing a controversial AI-generated video on his Truth Social account. The video, which depicted Barack and Michelle Obama as apes and used imagery from 'The Lion King,' was widely condemned as racist and factually incorrect.
On 'The View,' Goldberg slammed the video, emphasizing that there are no apes in the original 1994 film. She called on Trump and his team to 'check your facts' before posting such content, highlighting the misuse of cultural references and the perpetuation of harmful stereotypes.
The video sparked immediate bipartisan backlash, with political figures from both parties denouncing it as vile and degrading. Critics argued it invoked painful historical racist imagery, especially during Black History Month.
Goldberg's critique connects to broader concerns about the misuse of AI in political messaging, the spread of misinformation, and the responsibility of public figures. The incident has fueled a national conversation about race, representation, and the ethical limits of AI-generated media in public discourse.