Whoopi Goldberg 'Bat' Joke

[OriginalTexcalibur]

The truth is, this is what real comedy is. Comedy is the unexpected. This joke isn't racist in any way except it implies "God" as a racist which is totally "unexpected". This one joke will show you the difference in "wit" and "Comedy". One is dismissive, and another is an art. If you laughed without shock, you don't have to worry about being a racist... you're not. If you were shocked, then you need to re-examine yourself.

[NishaMarquise]

I think the joke was funny because it humanizes God, the great I AM, by stripping Him of the power we associate Him with having. It's not about the choice words (nigga and bat) or those words' meanings, but the fact that God would actually fix His lips to say something of that nature to not only an angel, but a child. Absolutely absurd yet hilarious! Or rather, absolutely absurd thus hilarious!!

-NishaMarquise

[tenorfab]

@NishaMarquise What if God was just being sarcastic??

[NishaMarquise]

@tenorfab I would assume sarcasm is possible but I don't think of God as being sarcastic. I believe the joke would be even more funny if I thought of Him in that manner. I mean, either way I laughed so perhaps both of our observations are correct... not that there is a right or wrong answer.

[kyoukasuigetsu211]

@NishaMarquise srsly, why the hell are you always quoting yourself?

[NishaMarquise]

@kyoukasuigetsu211 Because I can and I'm able... Why the hell do you care?

[MunfyKun]

That was absolute genius. The set up of these three jokes, as well as the way she controlled, manipulated, and conducted the audience through this situation, was perfection. She's a true comedian and a truly gifted speaker. This is the first time I've experienced a comedian make a joke specifically to analyze the reaction of the audience and make a statement on society through that reaction.

Whoopi Goldberg, everyone.

[N1GNEEDSAC1G]

To me, its funnier if God says "Nah nigga, you a bat"...nah instead of no, nigga instead of nigger, and you instead of you're. So she did it mostly properly.

[linorf]

i like the way she says it. that's the funny

[TheChuchoni]

haha i love her

[ShawnRavenfire]

For me, the joke is funny (at the risk of over-anylizing), because the setup is so sweet and polite, and people expect God to be so kind and loving and wise, that the punch line is completely unexpected. No one exects God to be so dismissive and rude, no one expects him to call the angel a bat (of all things), and certainly, no one expects God OR Whoopi to toss out the word "nigger." So it's a surprise on five levels.

[dramaticafantastica]

why would you title this video "bat joke"? You just give the punchline away right off there!!

[PhantomLyric]

@dramaticafantastica Not so much that it ruines the joke because the punchline is at the very end of the actual joke when the child asks, "Am I an angel." so it really doesn't occur to you what the punchline is until right up on it... I love this video for how it ends, not how it begins. I didn't laugh...

[kamwrites]

You go, Whoopie. Tell it like it is.

[greggfitz1]

I ain't no bat - I'm a duck ( quackquack )

[Kid100JrHolmes]

wrong and not funny cause it dum using the n word . nigga is short cersion of the white people version. so its like being rascius to yourself

[PhantomLyric]

@Kid100JrHolmes Did you watch the entire video? I think you missed the point.

[Kid100JrHolmes]

@PhantomLyric yeah i watched the entire video , i just didnt like her using the n word. you dont have to be funny to use that word.

[PhantomLyric]

@Kid100JrHolmes Then I think the point went over your head. It was used necessarily in this case... The point was served well... 

[Kid100JrHolmes]

@PhantomLyric well we have have our own opinions , i got wat she meant . and maybe u just dont get where i am comming from .

[PhantomLyric]

@Kid100JrHolmes Oh, I do, but simple logic would tell you that the benefit of the joke outweighs its negatives.

[Kid100JrHolmes]

@PhantomLyric watever you say Professor

[stingernitro]

its more of a joke to make you think, even if it does make you laugh.

[clazzofoeight]

LMAO! Check out the reactions to the joke. Hehehehe! No, I didn't stop laughing I burst out as a matter of factly.

[PhantomLyric]

@clazzofoeight Did you watch the entire video? I think you missed the point.

[clazzofoeight]

@PhantomLyric Yes, I watched the video. (obviously) No, I didn't miss the point, I just pointed out something else.

[PhantomLyric]

@PhantomLyric Sorry, I wrote that to the wrong person. That wasn't for you.

[nem700]

it was funny cuz it was racist. simple and plain. crows and doves. angels and bats. black and white.

[db95018]

how cool would it be to hang out and get to know Whoopi?

[DailyScheisse]

LMAO!

[Patrickibens]

This one really makes you think isn't it?

[setheurovision94]

I just love how she says "community".

[taylorcurtishamilton]

It's funny because god's a racist.

[jackpot1021]

buzz killington

[Rockrgrl350]

I love the way she looks around the room to see the reactions and she just looks like "yeah I said it, that just happened." This was a brilliant set up and a great way for people to really think about language and why things are funny.

[thedarthflagger]

actually we used to tell it differently in school. i am a very light skinned latino male and all the black kids used to tell that joke around me. i cracked up because it was just fucking bloody funny. we all grew up in paterson and were accustomed to those types of jokes.

[thedarthflagger]

so whoopi was responsible for the bat joke. i thought it was eddie murphy lol.

[azmildman]

If the N word offends you, then you better NEVER listen to one of the funniest black comedians, Katt Williams. YouTube won't allow me to show the URL on here since they don't want people to get the whole story.

[fishlube]

Now that's a real artist at work! makes you think about different realities

[DonkeyMagnet99]

?

Yawn !!

In no way is this funny at all, just plain old boring, tired, unfunny, typical tired old, heard them a million times before 'black' jokes from yet another unoriginal black comedian in a long line of unoriginal black comedians telling the same tired old 'black' jokes.

Boring, boring, boring, unfunny, unfunny

Dave Chapelle is one who stands out among a tiny handful of original, genuinely hilarious black American comedians.

(And I'm black before you accuse me of being racist)

[firestartertwistedfi]

@DonkeyMagnet99 if i were you, i wouldn't advertise the fact you have no taste - but it's your choice

[DonkeyMagnet99]

..and if i were you id go back to school, read a little more, or do just about anything to develop a little bit more of an intellect that doesnt suscribe to the lowest common denominator of unimaginitive and plainly unfunny so-called humour, i.e..."nigger, nigger, nigger, ...hahahahaha, Im so funny, I'm black and I said nigger, hahaha, how funny"

(p.s. I'm not offended by the word, just bored by the slew of black American so-called comedians who like to get cheap laughs from lowbrow audiences)

[TheIMC8]

I guess you don't know what's funny. Sad.

[DonkeyMagnet99]

@TheIMC8

I certainly do know whats funny and it aint whoopi 'unfunny' goldstein and her unfunny bat jokes

i bet sister act '2' is your favourite movie

[Roadie92]

No Nigga You're a bat! XD LMAO

[IdleBigots]

I found it funny because god sounded sarcastic.

[zackhanscom]

6/10

[nvs101]

its not funny bec of the word its funny bec this kid is so happy and gods like no u dome ass your a bat

[Yalf111]

Strangely I think this appeals to me (aside from obvious unexpected shock value) is because I find it really nice when black people use 'nigga' in front of me in a joking way that makes you kind of feel included instead of from the outside looking in.

[blues2oo]

What a great way to question yourself, your reaction and what you think about racism.

[derdriui]

The thing is, it's funny in the way many jokes are funny: you think you're heading down one narrative path.

It gets switched. Shocked laughter. It's not about the 'nigga,' bit in the sense that it's looking down on black people the way the word is used. It's very much on the side of protecting the black child from the hatred of the world. Like a darker version of Shappi Khoshandi's 'Babylonian Jezebel' joke.

[justjokingyall]

It is the delivery and the fact that it was a black baby ANGEL. 'no nigger you a bat' is the equivelant to what the hell do you think?

[domisthebomb09]

deep. she is deep. i <3 this.

[doda]

As a caucasian person, I really wasn't sure if laughing at that joke was appropriate for me. It was funny, but the question of why was it funny is something that I'm not sure how to answer. That is the great thing I've found out about Whoopi Goldberg, she makes you think about things. Thanks for posting this.

[spellhydro45]

oh daaaaaaaaaaamn that was a good one

[blaziken2488]

What made this joke funny for me is that the baby angel was dum enough to ask god if he was an angel!!!!

[MegaMetan]

whenever I feel sad or angry...I use to view this joke and then I feel happy again. So funny and can cure all you pains. Trust me....!

[faithfulmonkey]

I like that joke :)

[NepperCat]

Great joke, she got it from Paul Mooney.

[Hauktjern]

link?

[NepperCat]

Theres none, it was up for awhile but they're always taking Paul's material off YouTube. Rest assured, thats a Paul Mooney original.

[PsychoNekoSan]

That's a funny joke, but cruel XD

Hey does anyone here know a joke about white people?:D

[pikasmDESIGN]

i didnt find it funny maybe because it is not as relevant to me as to most other people watching this. because I am from Australia and we don't hear that term much. So I guess that shows that the joke itself with the bat isnt funny, but what made it funny (because its unexpected and jokes are funny cos its unexpected) is because you were surprised that she used the word. a taboo word, like the F word in primary school and everyone laughs and thinks you are cool for saying it

[melissawells]

mmmm....she left you with a huge thought, it is a shocked laugh for me, but at the same time mmmm......

[TornTen]

She, like allot of comedians, are not only trying to make you laugh but also make you think.

[thegunclub123]

she said those very words about her one-person show/s

[andrewVeto]

@TornTen couldnt have said it any better.

[worriedaboutlife]

Isn't wasn't funny.. Whoppi ain't been funny since being in Sister act and ghost and all that shit...

[Jeust0999]

the little black man asked god...i look like a man and have a GED..am i a human?

god said No, Nigga you a Nigger!

[katanatt]

it's funny to me coz it plays with the former discrimination cliches - even if you have wings (smart, talented, etc.), but you're black, you're not an angel (doors are not open for you), you're a bat, nigga!

Good thing that's HISTORY now and we live in the most liberal world ever, if you have wings, you're an angel!

[jonwiley]

You're dreaming.

[katanatt]

I'm high.

But I mean every word. DUDE, it's REAL!!!

[firestartertwistedfi]

Hmm not sure how serious you are about the last sentence, love your analysis of the joke though

[guilherme0012]

its funnay kuz he thought he was an angel n he is a bat DUH

[LTopomcFly]

Its funny because you immediately say to yourself: "God is racist?!"

[yoshinetzero]

i was laughing before the main joke i love how she was doing the little kid voice XD

[hkasko]

Whoopi is a genious.

[ASAMOAH24]

VERY FUNNY

[englishgirl69]

she said the N word at the end of the joke! its a controversial way of saying a 'black' person that is related to slavery

[jonwiley]

No, usage of the word not a synonym for a black person that is related solely to slavery. During the British Empire, Asian Indians and anyone of darker skin tone was referred to as a "nigger" or as "black." Somehow, these derogatory terms became solely associated with the shameful historical American institution of slavery. Which could be part of what the racist problem is: people sense the word "nigger" is derogatory but they remain ignorant as to its historical usage.

[DShelmon21]

That's not true everywhere. In the English language, "Nigger" meant "dirty dog" and slave owners would use it to insult the African slaves. Similar to how men use the word "bitch" (which means female DOG) to insult women.

[alemalealek]

could someone tell me what was the N-word ? I just could'nt undertsand it

[jonathannewbrook]

The N word was 'Nigger'.

[ryanlock2u]

Not wrong becauase it's funny, it's funny because it's wrong!

[adatheraider]

thats ice-- cold whoopi

[Elric33239]

I thought it was "nervous laughter" from the audience in the sense that no matter how many opportunities are offered to everyone equally, there will always be someone IN AUTHORITY who will hold SOMEONE back and "put them in their place." If a Jewish comedian said "Kike" instead of the "N" word, I think it would still be funny for the same reason. Food for thought from a Master Chef of Comedy. Long Live Whoopi!

[Roybhoy88]

The joker was hilarious just because the end caught be by surprise

She is just showing us how screwed up society is and that the war between Black and White will never end no matter how much people or the government try to cover it up.

Look at the reaction from that one simple Joke, it's stupid.

She isn't being racist in the slightest and neither are the people who are laughing

That's why comedians are golden. They say the stuff everybody else is scared to say. The real stuff.

[TheKillerofhipies]

@Roybhoy88 lol yeah you could say that racism will maybe never end hate will maybe never end but we live in a generation where we are beginning to educate our children more theres this thing theory that after each successive generation gets larger it wont be over maybe but it wouldnt be that massive or great

[SinclairisCool]

@Roybhoy88 What exactly is the "war" today?

discrimination? racism? Bigotry?

[Roybhoy88]

@SinclairisCool All of that. Government tries to tell us that racism is dying down and not a big issue any more but the reaction to Whoopi's joke clearly disputes this. Look how uncomfortable everybody gets in the room once she says it, nobody really knows how to react so they laugh nervously. As TheKillerofhipies says it will probably take a few more generations for racism to die altogether, if infact it ever does. Bigotry can be seen alive and well at a lot of football/soccer matches.

[SinclairisCool]

@Roybhoy88 I think the main one is bigotry. It's like people were taught to believe certain things and refuse to believe the truth and refuse to believe and accept that society has moved on. But like you say HOPEFULLY my great grandchildren will live in a world without racism.

[stingernitro]

@Roybhoy88 sad but true, the world we live in is sad especially how society makes it.

[amadeusdanger]

For god sakes people. Its a joke! No one is being a racist, yet alot of stupid, ignorant people are accusing us of being racist. Loosen up! Get your panties out of a twist.

[logjammers]

What kind of retarded audience even mildly laughed at that unfunny attempt at humor. And who even noticed the N word until she brought it up again afterward? And then she analyzed the "joke" as if the unnoticed word actually was the reason it wasn't funny.

What drivel.

[darkpirategirl]

I didn't laugh, it was more of a :O reaction to me.

[ksj1975]

I agree, not very funny to me either.

[helenajesstarzak]

I love you, Whoopi Goldberg!

[solitairecat]

She's fantastic. She makes you laugh and think too.

Very poignant.

[jazzypayne09]

ahahah!! she put that white lady on blast at the end.

[triniLes20]

LMAO!!!!!!!!!lol...oh my gosh that was soooo funny!I'm not a racist!I love women of colour!I loooooooooooove whoopi!!!!!xoxoxoxoxoxox

[DionnesVids]

I Love Whoppi

[frikadellur]

Whoopi is scary!

[frikadellur]

I laughed to death! whoopi is one of my favourite actresses

[thoomolong]

I thought she was going to ask the question,.

"would you have laughed if a white comedian told that joke?"

[dimc40]

she is terrific. so open. wish more people were like her. class act. #1.

[bostonbruinsfever]

This show was so hilarious. I love Whoopi. She is a class act.

[christentze]

there was the bat joke, the parrot joke, and what was the last joke she told? i remember watching this on tv but i can't remember what the heck the third joke was!

[christentze]

bahaha. i love whoopi. i her love so much! :D

"Don't say, 'Oh, please.'" Try goin' outside and sayin' it."

the way she said that and was like, "Oh, okay," in that sarcastic way was hilarious. she's ace. she's 98% why i watch the view.

[Felangel]

Thats the reason I like Whoopi, she speaks so nicely and wise, it always got u thinking how does she remember all these stuff. ANd she ALWAYS cracks u up wit all her jokes.

[2kwolfgang]

Whoopi is great. Very smart and very funny woman.

[kimmarie801]

I love whoopi!

[therealwhoopi]

Brilliance.

[yadavida]

She really makes you think, very philoseful

[kepstein8888]

I like how she keeps saying "The Community" with that look on her face.

[Elric33239]

Whoopi has had a love/hate relationship with The African-American community for decades. She tends to send the message that "We are in OUR OWN way more often than white bigots are." Hence the face. I strongly agree! I've heard more "Obama won't last because someone will shoot him" more often from BLACK people than white. I wonder if this will change when he runs for re-election?

[barney128a]

Damn, that woman is MY God!

[lenin1928]

yeah I really learned a lot from this, I feel my mind opening. Thanks nigger.

[300k]

I love you nigger.

[lenin1928]

I love you more my niggggger.

[JillStrif]

i like that she takes risks.

[kisowytcky]

ohhhh damn

[sojustbeyou]

i love whoopi, but you can't deny that she ripped off of Paul Mooney with this joke!

[Shiratsui]

I may sound very primitive,but I don't realy see a reason to be upset.The joke was awesome,beacuse it was honestly told by Whoopi.Had it been a caucasian instead the yei old BOOOOOOOOOOing would be unavoidable.

Ask yourself this question why?

Some use it outside in a friendly way,but if heard by a other race they turn violent.

this is the fundamental flaw of this particular confusion...yesterday is history today.learn from it.

Racism causes this word such controversy from both sides.

[minervamcgonagall86]

omg her face at like 1.25 is pure gold is like "yeah i said it"

it was just funny!

[CSJflicks]

WHOOPIE GOOOLDBERG!!!!!!!!!

[inasexymood]

It is funny because you didn't see it coming. If it's funny because it was a black baby (which I'm sure wasn't the reason for most people) then yes, you are wrong as hell. It's ALL in the intention, and the judgment we make in ourselves. That's Whoopi's point. To check your motives and thoughts.

[LILBRAZ]

First I was upset. Then I started laughing. That was an original way of telling a joke.

[thefirstutuber]

I didn't really think it was funny. However the message was good at the end. Go Whoppie!

"Q. What's yellow green and purple and sits in a cage?

A. It's my n________ and I'll paint it any colour I want!"

Now that one i laughed at. Cause it's rediculous! I also heard it from someone blacker than me. That dosn't make it right but it does make me laugh.

[deidasassy]

hurting your feelings< you have issues. this is 2008 i am sure you have told your share of racist jokes. so for you lighten up and if you already have then get a clue.

[HurtingYourFeelings]

This godamn Aunt Jemima house-nigger ain't no godamn filthy Jew.....she's like 92% nigger and 8% european...just to fit in with the crackers, eh, "Whoopi"?

[jacqgord]

i thought it was funny the first time,,, but then listening too it again it isnt as funny. wether its because i've listened to it again or because of whoopis comments im not sure

[choxie4me]

Yes the joke is funny but it's funny for all the wrong reasons. We still have a slanted way of viewing people of color (black folk) so; to call a black angel a bat would be funny to some folk. The word, "nigger" helps to compound the insulting joke. This is why I like Whoopi and other comics like her. She gives us something to think about therefore; by thinking we are having the conversation about race, God, etc. What I have learned is that you all have valid points and I respect you all.

[EastCountyGirl]

Omg, when I first heard this joke, I laughed my ass off!

[bugaladyz]

It was not funny to us. God would never say anything to one of his children to hurt them. The N word was only to describe that a person was of dark skin, but it was changed by cruel people. I am white, but i don't like that word either. We are all GOD'S children. Even a black person should never call another black person that disgusting word. Discrimination is cruel, evil, blasphemous, painful, and just plain wrong. What is wrong with people? We LOVE Whoopi and would love to meet her someday.

[marsthebest31]

Oh My God she's so fantastic ... an' me Whoopi can I go to heaven ??? You're so funny girl an' so amazing in "The color purple" & "Sister act 1 & 2" aren't you ???

I love U an' if one day I could meet you, I will be able to lost my word such as I'm fan of U !

I love U Whoopi once again an' please never change ... you're the best miss !!!

By Marsthebest31

[Angel64968]

Funny! Hahaha!

[Angel64968]

Funny! Hahaha!

[bungalina]

Her delivery made it funny. If it was said differently it wouldn't be comical at all. I love Whoopi. She's so hilarious in her movies.

[filmart88]

I love Whoopy. She used the n word just as an example, i think. it may not be whether its right or wrong, but its funny because GOD who is an almighty perfect existence used this word,ie,very humane & we all make mistakes and making mistakes is part of us.(i could be wrong) people laugh at others' mistakes a lot of times and i am not trying to be sarcastic here, but based on a fact. and again, its not whether its right or wrong. part of human nature....

[laurensneakysmile]

I thought it was funny!

BECAUSE Whoopi made the 'black angel' look all happy and cute and then God just comes along hurts it's feelings. To me it had nothing to do with the N word, although, if i ever repeat this joke i will not be saying that word because it's still funny without it

[nostromoau]

What stops this from being funny is the idea that God would A. consider a black angel to be a bat ...or B. would hurt the angel's feelings like that. The N word doesn't make it funny or unfunny. What is God supposed to be, some grumpy old idiot?

[fanomusic24]

No, but I do think that God is hilarious at times and can have a sense of humor! I laughed. It was funny because of the delivery, the set up & yes the unexpectedness. After I laughed I questioned whether people think God is white or black? Hmmm?!

[monami436]

well...he does control the weather...

[nostromoau]

Must be some uptight people viewing these commments to get my innocuous comment rated as spam. Shine on you guys...it's only an opinion.

[holydarkness]

whoopi rocks! GO WHOOPI

[artistNexile]

It was funny because of the shock factor? I like the questioning of the audience at the end of the joke. What made it funny or what made it not funny?

[ichiban69]

In all sincerity it was funny because God as the perfect "being" as He is. . .was made to say the word N---. All jokes are funny, and if an individual is to weak to comprehend jokes than dammit it isn't for them, but no one should be condemed for expressing humor in such manner. If that's the case, why do we still "Roast" people we admire and respect. Publicly.

[ruttenkines]

stop reading so much into it, its just a joke.

[cooolness3]

well it's not funny.

[spencerant88]

I've seen the first joke - and this joke (which I find funny becasue it's wrong) - but what was the second joke.

[Elric33239]

Look for "Whoopi's Second Parrot Joke." It's linked to "Whoopi's Parrot Joke." As she said "I like parrot jokes." And she told all three jokes VERY well, I thought. And I strongly agree with the posters who said "It was funny because it was wrong" and "It's more of a slam against people in authority (the false image of God in this case) than a justification of racism." I believe "The Community" represents self-appointed black leaders who "put her to task" for saying the truth about racism.

[spencerant88]

Given the fact that I posted that message 11 months ago, and since then someone else has uploaded the second joke, I can tell you that I have seen that joke about 6 weeks ago. I found it funnier than the first parrot joke.

[Elric33239]

I didn't know and I agree.

[omhwwe16]

a nigga is not a black person

it is a stupid or dumb person

so thank-you

[cooolness3]

Then you are a "nigga" for thinking that. You are ignorant. That is not what it means. Don't redefine the pain and history that goes with it!

[angelsgrl812]

But that is what white people thought blacks where in the old days. Dumb and stupid, but now we are not. We have jobs, education and our own wealth. But we still do have people who think it wise to sell drugs to our children, have 8 kids with 8 different men, no job, collecting well fare checks. That is a "nigga" plan and simple!

[JCaldwo3]

We've always had jobs, education and our own wealth since the beginning of time. Don't put black people into one class, because not all blacks were slaves. Not all blacks were poor, and not all blacks were uneducated, know your history. Not all blacks sell drugs or have 8 kids by 8 different men. Think about what you're saying before you say it.

[leroythegreat2007]

Earlier in the special she states she has no problem with the "n-word" because she doesn't know any (n's) and has never been one. You can't be mad about a word; you SHOULD be mad about the intent.

[filmart88]

wise opinion with a wise "suggestion" throughn by a intelligent and brilliant woman... of course, it's Whoopi.

[wandagavin]

I felt that she really proved a point. That's one way of letting you know, Who's who. It's not good for no one to use those types of words.

[ponyboy316]

Shock. Laughter is a survival instinct. Was it wrong because it was funny? No, actually. It was funny because it was wrong. What makes jokes funny is usually an absurdity that sometimes shocks your system. It activates your survival instinct. When there is nothing dangerous present, it becomes laughter as a means of releasing the tension. The fact that God would be racist is absurd. And that black-angels would be bats is just funny because of the image it creates in your mind.

[deezvids]

That was messed up...  :-D

[ponyboy316]

Funny as hell though. I almost passed out from a lack of air. Whoopi, the fear isn't racism, it is human prejudgment and a fear of being prejudged. We are sight based creatures adn so most of our judgment comes from what we see. What people need to realize is half of what they see is an illusion of their mind.