Introduction: Tommy Chong’s Career-Changing Moment on The View
On April 2025, The View on ABC aired a segment that has sent shockwaves through social media and the entertainment world. Comedy legend Tommy Chong, one-half of the iconic stoner duo Cheech & Chong, made remarks widely condemned as racist during a heated discussion. While appearing alongside his longtime partner Cheech Marin, Chong interrupted Marin, claimed to be “smarter” than him, and made a shocking statement: “I went to school. I became Black. In fact, for finishing school, I went to jail. So I got my degree in total blackness.” The backlash was swift, with fans and critics labeling Chong a racist and questioning The View’s handling of the incident. Here’s what happened, the social media reaction, and what this means for Chong’s legacy.
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The Incident: What Did Tommy Chong Say?
During a recent episode of The View, Tommy Chong appeared with Cheech Marin to promote their documentary Cheech & Chong’s Last Movie, released on April 25, 2025. The segment took a controversial turn when Chong repeatedly spoke over Marin, dismissing him by saying he was “smarter” than his comedy partner of over 50 years.
The tension escalated when Chong made the following remark:
“I went to school. I became Black. In fact, for finishing school, I went to jail. So I got my degree in total blackness.”
This statement, which ties Black identity to incarceration and stereotypes, was met with gasps from the audience and stunned silence from the hosts, including Whoopi Goldberg. The comment, captured in a YouTube video 
posted by The View, has since gone viral, fueling accusations of racism. Chong’s reference to his 2003 prison sentence for selling drug paraphernalia (Operation Pipe Dreams) was seen as trivializing serious issues of race and incarceration, offending viewers who saw it as perpetuating harmful stereotypes.
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Social Media Erupts: Backlash and Criticism
The reaction on platforms like X and YouTube was immediate and intense. A YouTube user,
@brotherd9904, commented, “What stereotypical BS is The View allowing to happen. And Whoopi Goldberg just sat there and didn’t say a goddamn thing.” This sentiment reflects widespread frustration with both Chong’s remarks and the perceived inaction of The View’s hosts. Goldberg, a vocal advocate for social justice who has collaborated with Chong in the past (e.g., the 2017 documentary Hollyweed: Tommy Chong and Whoopi Goldberg), faced particular scrutiny for not challenging him on air.
Posts on X echoed similar outrage, with users calling Chong’s comments “disgraceful” and “career-ending.” Some defended Chong, arguing his stoner comedy often plays with racial stereotypes satirically, as seen in films like Up in Smoke (1978). However, many felt this remark crossed a line, especially in 2025’s heightened sensitivity to racial issues. The viral YouTube clip has amplified the controversy, with thousands of comments dissecting Chong’s intent and The View’s response.
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@CTJenkins