“Why Whoopi Goldberg’s Mother Missed Her Oscar Win: A Touching Reflection”
Photo: The View / YouTube
Whoopi Goldberg recently reflected on a poignant moment from her Academy Awards journey, sharing why her mother, Emma Harris, chose not to attend the ceremony the night she won. During the October 7 episode of The View, the 68-year-old actress looked back on her own experiences with the Oscars while discussing Kathy Bates’ reflections on her acceptance speech.
Goldberg’s first Oscar nomination came in 1985 for her role in The Color Purple, where she was up for Best Actress. Despite her powerful performance, the award went to Geraldine Page for The Trip to Bountiful. However, six years later, Goldberg finally took home an Oscar, winning Best Supporting Actress for her role in Ghost. But on that special night, her mother wasn’t there to witness the win.
“My mother didn’t come when I won. She came when I was nominated for The Color Purple, but she didn’t wanna be there in case I didn’t win again,” Goldberg shared, revealing her mother’s protective instincts and the emotional weight of such an event, reported Daily Mail.
Reflecting on her earlier loss to Geraldine Page, Goldberg explained that despite the outcome, she and her mother were thrilled. “No, [my mom] didn’t have ‘angry face’ because the woman who won was from our neighborhood, was from Chelsea. And so we were really, the neighborhood was represented, you know?” Goldberg said. The win felt personal to them, as Page was a beloved figure in their New York City community.
Goldberg expressed her happiness for Page’s victory, acknowledging that it was the actress’s long-overdue recognition. “She’d been nominated [seven] times. She’d never won. She won for that and then she passed [a year later in 1987]. So I’m really glad she got her due,” Goldberg said, showing admiration for the late actress’s legacy.
In her memoir, Bits and Pieces: My Mother, My Brother, and Me, Goldberg further elaborates on her mother’s absence during her Oscar win. “My mother wasn’t at the ceremony because she didn’t want to show disappointment if I lost,” she wrote. Instead, her daughter Alex and brother Clyde accompanied her, dressed to the nines. Goldberg fondly recalled how she and her mother were “Oscars fanatics” who shared a love for the ceremony.
Even though Emma Harris wasn’t physically present the night Goldberg won, her influence and protective spirit were clearly felt. Goldberg’s reflection reveals the deep bond she shared with her mother and how, even in her greatest moments, she carried her mother’s love and support with her.
