Sherri Shepherd’s new daytime talk show, Sherri, is just days away from premiering and Shepherd plans to use her new platform to help others, thanks to a lesson she learned from EGOT winner Whoopi Goldberg.
In an interview with HollywoodLife, Shepherd said her former The View co-host gave her advice that stuck with her throughout her hosting career.
“One of the big things that I learned at The View is paying it forward,” Shepherd explained.
“When I came from L.A., all I had was a Gap miniskirt and a tank top. Whoopi was taking me around after I went on Bill O’Reilly with that tank top and that miniskirt. Whoopi said, ‘We got to get you some clothes.’ She took me to Anne Fisher. She got all of these clothes for me, and they were very expensive,” Shepherd said.
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During this time, Shepherd was going through a divorce and says she couldn’t afford to pay. But, Goldberg came to the rescue.
“I said, ‘I can’t afford these clothes my card is going to be declined.’ I figured I would pay for the clothes and take them back and get my money back. I was going through a divorce. I just was broke,” she recalled.
“The sales clerk, when I gave them the card, said, ‘Ms. Goldberg paid for these clothes.’ I broke down crying and Whoopi hugged me, and Whoopi said, ‘Pay it forward’ … Whoopi taught me to pay it forward, which is what I have been doing for my entire career,” Shepherd said of her friend and mentor.
The actress and comedian added that she feels compelled to apply that advice to her new talk show.
“For this talk show, Sherri, paying it forward means that I am going to show you regular people, heroes who need some exposure, I want to show you some comics who are amazing,” she continued.
Shepherd was a co-host on The View from 2007 to 2014, where she earned an Emmy Award. She most recently filled in multiple times as a fan favorite for The Wendy Williams Show, which was canceled amid Williams ongoing health condition. As Urban Hollywood 411 previously reported, Shepherd ended up being offered her own show.
Sherri debuts Monday, Sept. 12 on Fox television stations.
