TRUE: Whoopi Goldberg Trips Over Words and Feet in Jason Aldean Debate on ‘The View

Ladies and gentlemen, it’s official: Whoopi Goldberg has proved to the world that sometimes, just sometimes, a faceplant is not just for the gymnasts or the overenthusiastic skateboarder in your neighborhood. It can also become the pivotal moment in a fiery debate on live television, as aptly demonstrated in the most recent episode of ‘The View.

Yesterday’s episode had all the makings of an explosive day-time drama, with country music star Jason Aldean as the special guest. Known for his cowboy hats, rough vocals, and controversy-loving nature, Aldean had been invited to participate in a spirited debate with Goldberg, following her recent criticism of his popular hit.

However, what the audience expected to be a verbal slugfest soon turned into a physical comedy show, worthy of a Saturday Night Live sketch, thanks to Goldberg’s unfortunate encounter with gravity. The drama unfolded when Whoopi, in an attempt to emphasize a particularly pointed critique of Aldean’s song, stood up from her chair and – well – simply faceplanted onto the glossy surface of the stage.

It was as if the universe itself was taking a moment to punctuate Goldberg’s rhetorical flourish with a slapstick exclamation mark. For a few seconds, time seemed to stand still on the set, as both the studio audience and Aldean watched in shocked silence.

However, the initial shock quickly subsided, giving way to stifled giggles and then outright laughter from the audience. Aldean, for his part, handled the situation with a surprising amount of grace and humor, offering Goldberg a hand and a chuckle as she regained her footing.

While the rest of the debate passed without any further tumbles, the faceplant incident has since gained a life of its own on social media. Hashtags such as #WhoopiFaceplant and #TheViewGoesDown are trending, with memes featuring a sprawling Goldberg popping up all over the internet.