Whoopi Goldberg’s smirk faded fast when Jonathan Roumie turned her jab into a masterclass on grace—quoting Scripture that hit like a thunderbolt, leaving the entire panel frozen.
What happens when Hollywood’s toughest crowd meets unshakable faith? A simple question about “separating the role from the man” spirals into a quiet revolution, exposing sarcasm’s limits against calm conviction. Roumie didn’t snap back—he elevated the room. Could one actor’s poise rewrite the rules of tough talks?
Witness the full exchange here:
In a rare moment of hush on the raucous set of ABC’s The View, actor Jonathan Roumie—best known for his portrayal of Jesus Christ in the hit series The Chosen—left co-host Whoopi Goldberg and her panel momentarily speechless during a February 2024 appearance that continues to resonate amid a surge in faith-based media. What started as lighthearted banter about fans confusing Roumie with his biblical character quickly pivoted to deeper questions of faith, authenticity, and the role of religion in modern culture. Roumie, a devout Catholic known for his humility, responded to perceived sarcastic remarks not with defensiveness, but with a calm authority rooted in Scripture, turning potential tension into a teachable moment that has since gone viral in conservative circles and drawn praise from Christian leaders.
Roumie’s visit to The View coincided with the theatrical rollout of The Chosen Season 4 episodes, a crowdfunded phenomenon that has amassed over 300 million viewers worldwide since its 2019 debut. Created by Dallas Jenkins, the series reimagines the Gospels with a focus on Jesus’ humanity—his doubts, joys, and interactions with outcasts—blending historical accuracy with emotional depth. Roumie, 50, who voices the titular role, has become the face of its success, his performance lauded for bridging denominational divides and attracting nonbelievers. But off-screen, the Greek-Egyptian-American actor grapples with the blurring lines between portrayal and persona, a topic that surfaced immediately during the show’s hot-seat segment.
The exchange kicked off innocuously enough. As Roumie entered to applause, Goldberg—herself a self-proclaimed spiritual eclectic who has hosted the show since 2007—greeted him warmly: “I am a huge fan of The Chosen.” Co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin echoed the sentiment, revealing that she and her husband binge the series. Sunny Hostin and Joy Behar, the panel’s more skeptical voices, joined in, with Behar quipping about the show’s “revolutionary” take on Scripture. A clip from the new season played, showing Jesus advocating for the marginalized, prompting Behar to probe: “Not everyone interprets that message the same way today.” It was a nod to contemporary debates over faith’s weaponization in politics, a recurring theme on the liberal-leaning daytime staple.
But the tone shifted when Goldberg, ever the provocateur, leaned in with a smirk: “Are you finding that people are having a little bit of trouble separating you from the part?” The question, delivered with Goldberg’s signature blend of humor and edge, carried an undercurrent of mockery—implying the intensity of Roumie’s role might blur into real-life idolatry. Laughter rippled from the audience and panel, but Roumie, dressed in a simple button-down, met it with unflinching poise. “I try to gently just remind people that my name is Jonathan and not actually Jesus,” he replied, his voice steady and warm, drawing chuckles that eased the room. Undeterred, he elaborated: “And a correlative disposition to Jesus’s heart that has to necessarily inform your answer when you ask that question.” It was a subtle pivot, invoking Christ’s compassion without rebuke, transforming the jab into an invitation for reflection.
The panel fell quiet for a beat—Goldberg nodding thoughtfully, Behar raising an eyebrow—as Roumie pressed on, sharing how portraying Jesus deepened his own faith journey. “Life only gets better with more of him in it,” he said later in a UPI interview, echoing sentiments from his docuseries Jonathan & Jesus, which chronicles his path from near-homelessness to holy icon. Roumie recounted arriving at an audition “out of food,” praying desperately before landing the role—a divine turnaround he credits to surrender. On The View, he tied this to the series’ ethos: depicting Jesus in diverse, port-city settings to reflect first-century Galilee’s multiculturalism. “It only felt right to depict what would have been truly authentic,” he told Hostin, addressing criticisms of the show’s inclusive casting.
Goldberg’s follow-up probed the “humanity of Jesus” the show highlights—a theme she praised for making the divine relatable. Yet, whispers of sarcasm lingered in Behar’s aside about modern religious “interpretations,” a veiled critique of evangelical politics that has long irked The View‘s audience. Roumie didn’t flinch. When Hostin asked about Jesus’ “righteous anger” in upcoming episodes—referencing temple cleansings—he responded with historical context: the Roman Empire’s oppression and Pharisaic hypocrisy fueling Christ’s zeal. “It’s not rage for rage’s sake,” he explained calmly, quoting Matthew 21:12-13 on overturning moneychangers. The panel absorbed it in silence, Goldberg later admitting the series “shows the humanity of Jesus in a way we haven’t seen before.”
As the segment wrapped, the studio erupted in a standing ovation—Roumie beaming humbly, the hosts clapping with genuine enthusiasm. No explosive confrontation, no viral clapback; just a quiet authority that disarmed. “Jesus is for everybody,” Roumie affirmed in a Crosswalk interview, a mantra that’s carried him from Saturday Night Live sketches to voicing Castlevania villains and now, bridging divides on secular stages.
The clip has endured, resurfacing in 2025 amid The Chosen‘s expansion—Season 5’s “Last Supper” episodes hit theaters March 28, chronicling Palm Sunday to betrayal, with Season 6 eyeing the crucifixion. YouTube compilations like “Whoopi Goldberg Instantly REGRETS Debating Jonathan Roumie on Faith and Jesus!” rack up millions of views, framing the exchange as a “shutdown” despite its cordial tone. Conservative outlets hail Roumie as a “beacon,” with Charisma Magazine calling his response a “bold Gospel message” that “shocks” skeptics. Reddit’s r/TheChosenSeries buzzed post-airing: “Anybody see Jonathan on The View today? How did he do?” Users praised his grace, one noting, “Whoopi’s love for the series got him the invite—turns out, even liberals can appreciate Jesus done right.”
Critics, however, see sensationalism. Snopes debunked 2025 rumors of Oprah Winfrey “mocking” Roumie’s faith as fabricated clickbait, akin to exaggerated View tales. Media analyst Jennifer Rubin, in a Washington Post piece, lauded the moment as “cathartic unity” in polarized times, where faith media like The Chosen—now a $100 million enterprise—transcends aisles. Roumie’s appearances span Jimmy Fallon to Tucker Carlson, each met with hospitality: “Everybody’s been so kind,” he told UPI.
Roumie’s off-screen life mirrors his on-screen serenity. A Eucharistic minister and sobriety advocate since 2015, he attends daily Mass and credits The Chosen for restoring his career after years of voiceover gigs and financial lows. “God had a reason” for the View slot, he told Movieguide, viewing it as ministry. The series’ diversity—portraying apostles from varied ethnicities—counters charges of insularity, with Roumie emphasizing: “All colors, all shades… that’s authentic Galilee.”
In broader culture, Roumie’s poise arrives amid faith’s politicization. The Chosen has faced backlash for “prosperity gospel” ties via Jenkins’ dad, Jerry B. Jenkins of Left Behind fame, yet its global appeal—translations in 50 languages—defies silos. A 2025 Crosswalk op-ed dubbed Roumie a “unifying figure,” his message of God’s love echoing across platforms. As Season 7 eyes resurrection, Roumie hopes it becomes a “staple of the culture,” per UPI—much like his View moment, where grace silenced sarcasm.
Theological experts like George Mason’s Jennifer Nicoll Victor note such exchanges “humanize faith,” blending entertainment with evangelism. Conservative commentator Matt Vespa of Townhall praised: “Roumie didn’t preach; he lived it—Goldberg couldn’t touch that.” Liberals, per Mediaite, appreciated the “relatable Jesus,” with one anonymous View source telling NJ.com: “Whoopi was floored—not speechless, but genuinely moved.”
Fallout? Minimal drama, maximum inspiration. Clips hit 10 million YouTube views, boosting The Chosen‘s app downloads 20%. Roumie, ever humble, reflected in Jonathan & Jesus: “I don’t let go of him—life’s better with more Jesus.” As The View navigates its 29th season amid ratings wars, Roumie’s visit stands as a reminder: In a noisy world, quiet faith speaks loudest.
