Whoopi Goldberg dismisses controversy over bride costume for children: 'What the hell?'

Todd Garrin
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 13: Whoopi Goldberg speaks onstage during the Grand Tasting presented by ShopRite featuring Culinary Demonstrations at The IKEA Kitchen presented by Capital One at Pier 94 on October 13, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for NYCWFF)
Whoopi Goldberg speaks onstage during the Grand Tasting presented by ShopRite featuring Culinary Demonstrations at The IKEA Kitchen presented by Capital One at Pier 94 on October 13, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for NYCWFF)

Whoopi Goldberg has criticised the controversy surrounding a Halloween bride costume for children that has been pulled from sale.

She weighed in on the recent uproar over the costume sold by Kmart in Australia on US talk show The View. The costume, a bridal gown for children, was pulled from shelves by the big box chain after a petition was started, accusing the getup of normalising child marriage and sex trafficking. A Kmart spokesperson said, in part, “It was not intended to cause offence and we sincerely apologise.”

Goldberg wasn’t on-board with the controversy, chastising objectors by saying, “It’s a Halloween costume! What the hell?” She added, “It’s Halloween — leave the kids! It’s one day of candy!”

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Fellow panelist Joy Behar said the costume isn’t appropriate, but for different reasons. “They’re programming you to get married and have children,” said Behar. “You should have a choice in that,” she added.

Much like the panel, viewers on Twitter were split over whether the bride costume is appropriate for children. Some said it wasn’t a big deal at all:

Others said it’s not okay at all:

One dad objected, but for his own reasons:

Elsewhere, yesterday saw it confirmed that Goldberg would be reprising her role as Deloris Van Cartier for a 39-date run in the London stage musical version of Sister Act.

Goldberg originally portrayed the singer hiding out in a convent in the 1992 film and its 1993 sequel.

The production will run at London's Eventim Apollo in summer 2020, where Goldberg will star alongside Jennifer Saunders who is playing Mother Superior.