Actress Rachel Bilson is standing her ground amidst an unexpected feud with Whoopi Goldberg. The controversy began when Bilson made a suggestion on her podcast, 'Broad Ideas', that sparked headlines. She expressed her belief that it's “weird” for single, middle-aged men to have as few as four sexual partners. Goldberg, a co-host on “The View”, criticized Bilson's comments on the show, leading to Bilson defending herself and clarifying her intentions.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Bilson expressed her admiration for Goldberg, stating that she has been a fan for a long time. She admitted feeling concerned when she learned that Goldberg had criticized her. Bilson emphasized that her podcast is an open and safe space for discussions, and the conversation where she made the controversial remarks was meant to be casual and free-flowing.
Bilson revealed that she has the power to edit her podcast, but she chose to keep the conversation intact because she believes that life is full of moments where one says something and later reflects upon it. She stressed that her main point was not to sound judgmental, and she no longer holds the same judgment she may have had in the past. While acknowledging that her initial comment was flippant, Bilson asserted that she does not actually believe in making such judgments.
Bilson emphasized the importance of listening to the entire conversation before casting judgment or criticism. She recognized that her initial comment may have been clickbait, but she encouraged people to listen to the whole discussion to gain a better understanding of her viewpoint.
The specific comment that sparked the controversy was made during a conversation about a person's number of sexual partners. Bilson stated that if a middle-aged man had only slept with four women, it would seem "a little weird" in today's society. However, she quickly retracted that statement, acknowledging that it was not her place to judge. She noted that a person's number of sexual partners should not define their worth.
Goldberg's response on “The View” questioned why Bilson was concerned about a person's sexual partners and labeled it as not her business. Goldberg pointed out the historical double standards that allowed men to have multiple partners while women were discouraged from doing the same. She expressed confusion over Bilson's change in attitude now that women are challenging these norms.
Overall, Bilson's intention was to foster open conversation and express her evolving perspective on societal judgments. She hopes that by clarifying her stance, people will understand the context of her comments and consider the whole conversation before passing judgment.
