Whoopi Goldberg led the liberal spotlight on Daniel Penny’s acquittal on Monday’s episode of The View, showing particular disdain for the veteran’s choice to celebrate at a nearby bar.
The 26-year-old Marine veteran was charged with second-degree manslaughter and negligent homicide in the subway death of mentally ill homeless street performer Jordan Neely.
Penny’s acquittal infuriated BLM activists, who immediately called for revenge in the form of black vigilantes.
The 26-year-old quickly rushed to a downtown bar to celebrate his victory with his lawyers and ponder his next move.
Goldberg took issue with this choice on Monday’s episode of the long-running ABC gabfest.
“I don’t know if I felt comfortable seeing them celebrating in a bar, you know,” she began, adding, “I mean, you killed a man. The man is dead and maybe just – you take the party home, you don’t do it outside. But that’s just me,” the Oscar winner said.
She, like many on the left, expressed empathy for Neely and the circumstances that led to him being on the subway that night.
“And people are conflicted because he was a sick man. The more information we learn about him now, it turns out his mother was murdered and that may have been what set him on his mental path.”
Whoopi Goldberg led the liberal spotlight on Daniel Penny’s acquittal on Monday’s episode of The View, showing particular disdain for the Marine’s choice to celebrate at a nearby bar
The 26-year-old quickly rushed to a downtown bar to celebrate his win with his lawyers and ponder his next move
She attributed the failure to multiple aspects of society in being responsible for his death.
“There is a failure of the system… failure on the part of the courts, failure on the part of the hospitals, and failure on our part and how we deal with this.”
Co-host Sunny Hostin was angrier at Penny and those who suggested Neely was a threat to those around him.
“Neely, a former Michael Jackson impersonator, he was talking about hunger and thirst, and he said he didn’t care if he lived or died. There is no evidence that he assaulted anyone. There’s no evidence he had his hands on anyone.”
Alyssa Farah Griffin, a more conservative panelist, said Penny wasn’t the villain of the piece, specifying that they were only saying he wasn’t a threat “on that occasion.”
Ultimately, Hostin wondered, “When you look at that and look at the outcome of what happened, my question is: Where is our compassion as a society?”
On Monday, jurors returned the verdict of not guilty of negligent homicide to Judge Maxwell Wiley.
They quickly found him innocent, paving the way for his bright future full of book deals, TV appearances and even a career in politics.
The 26-year-old Marine veteran was charged with second-degree manslaughter and negligent homicide in the subway death of mentally ill homeless street artist Jordan Neely (pictured)
From the very beginning, Penny received sympathy from conservatives who said he was right to intervene when Neely was having it out on the subway.
With the trial behind her and renewed support from people like the Trump family, Penny’s future looks brighter than ever.
Industry experts believe Penny is in for a windfall of more than $1 million after the criminal case against him is concluded.
“He could become a symbolic figure for a certain segment of society, opening doors for both mainstream and conservative media,” James Pipe, legal expert and advocate at freegrantsforfelons.org, told the Daily Mail.
Pipe noted that a conviction would “necessarily preclude offers” because publishers and producers are notoriously “attracted to controversial figures.”
He said a “compelling memoir or exclusive first interview” could be worth up to $500,000, while a documentary or film deal could exceed $1 million.
‘An important factor will be how Penny and his team handle public relations after the trial.
“If he can frame his story in a way that resonates with audiences or connects to ongoing social conversations, the financial opportunities could be transformative,” Pipe said.
Penny celebrated the court victory at the Stone Street Tavern on Monday afternoon
“However, resistance or boycotts from opposition groups could dampen the prospects.”
Pipe said Penny would also have to consider civil lawsuits against him, and how any “post-trial earnings” might be affected by those lawsuits.
“Public scrutiny is likely to haunt him for years to come, which could impact the longevity of his public persona and his ability to secure deals in the long term,” he said.
Penny intervened when Neely jumped on the train and began threatening other commuters, including mothers, children and students. Neely shouted that someone was going to “die” and that he was ready to “go back to Rikers.”
He placed Neely in a chokehold that lasted six minutes, according to the state. His defense told jurors that he did not apply constant pressure during that time, and that he simply restrained Neely until police arrived.
Conservatives have long offered support to Penny since the case gained widespread national attention and became a lightning rod in the racial debate.
Vivek Ramaswamy donated $10,000 to Daniel Penny’s staggering legal fund, which has now reached $3 million. He has also repeatedly spoken out about Neely’s lengthy criminal record, accusing the Manhattan district attorney’s office of “sharing responsibility for his death by creating an anti-law enforcement culture.”
“Habitual criminals like Neely should not be allowed to roam free to terrorize and prey on innocent members of our communities,” he said.
Neely, 30, was once part of the city’s corps of subway and street performers and was known for his Michael Jackson impersonations
Penny also has the strong backing of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, raising questions about whether Penny himself would consider a move into politics considering he has access to two recent presidential candidates.
Now that the trial is over, Penny is also free to turn his attention back to his studies. At the time of his indictment, he was studying architecture at the New York City College of Technology.
He also had two jobs – one as a swimming teacher and also at a restaurant in Brooklyn – which he gave up to focus on the test.
He’s also not completely out of the woods yet after Neely’s family filed a civil lawsuit against Penny last week. Penny’s legal team, Thomas Kenniff and Steven Raiser, released a statement Friday afternoon revealing that they will immediately set their sights on the lawsuit.
The duo said the conclusion of the criminal trial would “allow us to focus on the civil lawsuit, filed two days ago, alleging the same allegations contained in the criminal complaint.”
Pipe said Penny should also consider civil lawsuits against him as he considers his next step, because any “post-trial earnings” could be affected by those lawsuits.
“Public scrutiny is likely to haunt him for years to come, which could impact the longevity of his public persona and his ability to secure deals in the long term,” he said.