Whoopi Goldberg Defends Malia Obama’s Name Change Amid Criticism

Choosing a stage name

Whoopi Goldberg, a renowned Hollywood personality, recently voiced her support for Malia Obama, daughter of Barack and Michelle Obama, who has decided to adopt a stage name for her latest project. Malia, often identified with her famous last name, has chosen to go by “Malia Ann” for her new venture, The Heart.

Online criticism and reactions

In response to some online criticism, Whoopi Goldberg, famous for successfully changing her name from Caryn Elaine Johnson, addressed the backlash during an episode of The View. She elaborated on the importance of respecting an individual’s choice of identity. According to Whoopi, if Malia wants to be referred to as “Malia Ann” or even as “Jeanette MacDonald,” it should be respected and celebrated. The host raised questions as to why people are concerned about Malia’s decision to drop her famous last name, stating that it is entirely her prerogative to do so.

A common transformation in Hollywood

Whoopi Goldberg further underscored that the choice to adopt a stage name is not uncommon in Hollywood. She mentioned that numerous individuals in the industry have altered their names as their careers progressed. Whoopi’s own transformation from Caryn Elaine Johnson to Whoopi Goldberg supports this insight. By highlighting this aspect, Whoopi aimed to emphasize that name changes are a personal choice and not something that should be subjected to unnecessary criticism or scrutiny.