Bakery denies refusing Whoopi Goldberg’s birthday dessert order over political views: 'It was boiler issues'

Bakery owner Jill Holtermann tells EW she did not deny the request because of Goldberg's politics, and that she told Goldberg 2 weeks ago that she was having equipment problems with her kitchen.

A 145-year-old New York bakery has denied Whoopi Goldberg's on-air speculation that the establishment refused to make special treats for her 69th birthday episode of The View over her political views.

Shortly after Goldberg closed Wednesday's episode of the show by enjoying a round of Charlotte Russe desserts at the Hot Topics table, she declined to name the bakery that made the desserts because, as she speculated, they initially denied her order over her political beliefs.

When Entertainment Weekly tracked down and contacted the company, Holtermann's Bakery on Staten Island, thanks to its distinct packaging for the Charlotte Russe treats, owner Jill Holtermann confirms that Goldberg initially requested the desserts two weeks ago, and denies the insinuation that she wasn't able to complete the order as a comment on Goldberg's left-leaning politics.

Related: Whoopi Goldberg admits she'd leave The View if she had more money, says she's having 'a hard time' like many Americans

"They’d asked us and we were having trouble with our boilers," Holtermann says, adding that Goldberg initially requested treats for a Nov. 6 appearance on a talk show, and for the Nov. 13 broadcast of The View — both of which she declined because she "didn't want to make a commitment that I can’t carry through” over the uncertainty of her equipment. She also confirms that an unidentified woman picked up around 50 Charlotte Russe desserts from the bakery at 7:30 a.m. ET Wednesday morning, which she was able to make — but didn't want to commit to ahead of time over ongoing boiler issues. She adds that she was not aware of any affiliations that the woman who picked up the desserts on Wednesday morning might have had, with regard to The View or otherwise.

Holtermann says that the building she operates in is nearly 100 years old, so equipment issues sometimes get in the way of fulfilling requests — as it did in the case of Goldberg's long-range order.

“I said to Whoopi, 'I can’t do it right now," she adds. "We have so many things going on with my boiler,' because the building is from 1930, so, when she called me, I had no idea [if we could] be baking everything."

Holtermann maintains that "it was not because of political” affiliations.

Entertainment Weekly has reached out to The View for comment.

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In the closing moments of Wednesday's live episode, Goldberg celebrated her 69th birthday by sharing Charlotte Russe desserts with her cohosts.

"My birthday dessert today was one of my mom’s favorites from when she was a kid, she talked about these all the time, they’re called Charlotte Russe. It’s a sponge cake with whipped cream and a cherry on top. I should tell you, Charlotte Russe has no political leanings. The place that made these refused to make them for me," Goldberg said, prompting panelist Sara Haines to spit out the dessert live on the air.

"No, let me explain," Goldberg continued. "They said that their ovens had gone down, but folks went and got them anyway, which is why I’m not telling you who made them. It’s not… because I’m a woman, but perhaps they did not like my politics. But, that’s okay, because you know what, listen, this is my mother’s celebration. Pick these up and celebrate with me and my mom. Thank you everyone for celebrating my birthday today."

The View airs weekdays at 11 a.m. ET/10 a.m. PT on ABC.