Whoopi Goldberg shuts down critics who said Dolly Parton should “act her age”

Whoopi Goldberg had some strong words for critics of Dolly Parton’s Thanksgiving Day halftime show during the Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Commanders football game.

“Apparently, my turkey wasn’t the only thing online that people were hating,” the host said on Monday’s episode of The View.  

Related:

Lauren Boebert viciously mocked for telling Dolly Parton “Yass Queen!!”

“I don’t think that Lauren Boebert knows that Dolly Parton highly dislikes her.”

According to Goldberg, some “critics” took issue with the fact that the 77-year-old Parton took the stage at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas for The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Kickoff Halftime Show wearing a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader-inspired costume.

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While most fans were blown away by the iconic “Jolene” singer’s performance and stunning look, MAGA clown Vince Langman took to X last Thursday to share his disdain. “Are you ok with 77 year old [sic] Dolly Parton dressing like a 20 year old Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader,” he posted.

“77-year-old women shouldn’t be on stage pretending they’re 20. They should be at home spending time with loved ones and family,” another X user wrote. “We need to stop normalizing this behavior.”

Goldberg had two words for the haters: “Bite me!”

Co-host Sunny Hostin backed Goldberg up, saying, “If I looked like that in one of them Cowboy things, I might have everything out.”

The View hosts also blasted online trolls who criticized Beyoncé’s 11-year-old daughter Blue Ivy for performing as a backup dancer on the singer’s Renaissance tour.

“Shame, shame on y’all,” Goldberg said. “She is somebody who doesn’t care what you think. She is someone who’s thinking for herself, and I’d like to see each and every one of you haters … do half of what she did on that stage. Let’s see your dance videos that you haven’t cleaned up. Don’t be shady, man. Life’s too short.”

Parton’s sister, Stella, also clapped back at the critics. “I personally thought my big sister Dolly was cute as hell in her Dallas Cowboys cheerleading costume at the half time show on Thanksgiving,” she wrote in a post on X Sunday. “To those of you being so critical of a 77 year old [sic] kicking up her heels, I say f**k yourself. Shame on you not her.”

Fans defended the singer, whose latest album Rockstar debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart this week, noting both her incredible look and also her philanthropy.

In fact, Parton’s Thanksgiving Day performance was part of a partnership with The Salvation Army, urging people to donate to the charity this holiday season. Though the religious charity organization once embraced anti-LGBTQ+ policies, it has since changed its doctrine on LGBTQ+ issues.

“My goal is to encourage everyone who can to donate and support their neighbors in need. Every small act of generosity helps, and together, we can all love our neighbors this holiday season and beyond,” Parton said in a statement ahead of Thursday’s halftime show.