Why did y’all leave me?’: Whoopi Goldberg Opens Up About Her Grief Journey

Whoopi Goldberg, the beloved actress, comedian, and longtime co-host of “The View,” has always been candid about her personal life.

In a heartfelt conversation with CNN’s Anderson Cooper, Whoopi recently opened up about the profound grief she experienced after losing her mother and brother within a span of just five years.

Whoopi’s mother, Emma, passed away in 2010, five years after the loss of her only brother, Clyde. These losses left a deep mark on her heart, and she shared with Cooper how grief has affected her over the years.

For Whoopi, grief is not just about sadness—it’s also about feeling abandoned by the people she loved most.

During the interview, Whoopi described the overwhelming sense of loneliness that followed her family’s deaths. “I remember thinking, ‘Why did y’all leave me?’” she confessed.

The pain of losing her closest family members made her feel isolated, as if she had been left behind to navigate life on her own. Even as she continued her successful career in entertainment, the absence of her mother and brother was a constant presence in her life.

Whoopi spoke about how her grief sometimes manifested as anger and confusion. She admitted that she would find herself questioning why her loved ones were gone and why she was left to deal with the aftermath.

“You don’t always know how to process it,” Whoopi said. “It’s not just about missing them. It’s about wondering, ‘What do I do now? Who do I turn to?’”

The actress also reflected on the unique bond she shared with her mother, Emma. Emma was not only Whoopi’s mother but also her biggest supporter and confidante. Losing her was like losing a part of herself. “She was the person I could call no matter what,” Whoopi recalled. “When she was gone, I felt unmoored.”

Her brother Clyde’s passing in 2005 was equally devastating. As her only sibling, Clyde was someone Whoopi could always rely on. The loss of both her mother and brother in such a short period left her feeling vulnerable and alone.

Whoopi explained that grief doesn’t have a set timeline and that even years later, she still feels the ache of their absence.

Despite the pain, Whoopi has found ways to cope and move forward. She credits her friends and her work for helping her through the darkest moments. Being able to talk about her feelings, whether on camera or with loved ones, has been essential to her healing process.

“You can’t keep it bottled up,” she advised. “You have to let yourself feel it, talk about it, and eventually, you find a way to keep going.”

Whoopi’s openness about her grief serves as a reminder that loss is a universal experience, and it’s okay to feel abandoned or lost when loved ones pass away.

By sharing her story, she hopes to help others feel less alone in their own journeys through grief.

—