Whoopi Goldberg  stormed off the set of her U.S. TV talkshow on Thursday, October 14 after becoming infuriated during a heated debate over the planned 'Ground Zero Mosque' in New York. A discussion with conservative broadcaster Bill O'Reilly on "The View" spilled over when the controversial Fox News anchor argued against the Islamic center in downtown Manhattan.

The political pundit insisted it was highly insensitive to build the place of worship so close to where the city's Twin Towers crumbled in 2001, after Muslim extremists flew two planes into the high rise buildings, exclaiming, "Muslims killed us on 9/11." But his outburst angered Goldberg and prompted the actress and her co-host Joy Behar to march out of the studio.

Their protest was criticised by fellow host and show producer Barbara Walters, who told the studio and television audience, "This should not happen. We should be able to have discussions without washing our hands and walking off stage." After several minutes, both Goldberg and Behar returned to the stage to continue the debate with O'Reilly.