Former Democratic Sen. Al Franken suggested on Wednesday that Whoopi Goldberg is not anti-Semitic because she chose "Goldberg" as her stage name.

"The View" co-host was suspended from the show on Tuesday after she declared repeatedly on-air that the Holocaust was "not about race." The former Minnesota senator addressed ABC's handling of the incident during a CNN on appearance on Wednesday, citing the fact that she went by a traditionally Jewish last name professionally as proof that she is not anti-Semitic.

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"Well, I know Whoopi, she is not anti-Semitic," Franken said. "She chose Goldberg for her last name for a stage name."

Goldberg, born Caryn Elaine Johnson, adopted the name in 1984 as her Broadway career was taking off.

Former Sen. Al Franken (left) | Whoopi Goldberg (left)

Goldberg backtracked on her comments on Monday, offering a written apology, telling "The Late Show" that she understands she upset people after receiving "very angry" messages from the public. She seemed to somewhat defend her remarks, though, saying as a Black woman she viewed race as something she could see.

"I understand," she said. "I felt differently. I respect everything everyone is saying to me and I don’t want to fake apologize."

On Tuesday, she apologized again and Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt appeared on "The View" to correct her comments.

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Franken, who was ousted from the Senate by his own party amid sexual misconduct allegations in 2018, praised Goldberg for issuing a "sincere and wholesome apology."

"I think she gave a sincere apology," he said. "I think what she said wasn’t quite what she meant. I thought it was great they had the head of the Anti-Defamation League on. I don’t know how they've handled other guests or hosts on that show before, but I was very taken with how sincere and wholesome the apology was."