Whoopi Goldberg’s birthday treat was bittersweet this year.

While celebrating her 69th birthday The view On Wednesday, November 13, the TV personality claimed that the bakery that made her birthday treats initially refused to take her order, speculating that it was because of her political views. The company – which the host declined to name, but identified with Entertainment weekly as Holtermann’s Bakery – later denied this claim.

After an hour of partying, Goldberg gifted the audience with her favorite things and friend James Monroe Iglehart performed the title song of Broadway’s A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical, The view’The co-hosts enjoyed a dessert close to the actress’s heart: Charlotte Russe.

The dessert – a trifle-like treat with layers of sponge cake, Bavarian cream and fruit – was one of Goldberg’s mother’s favorites growing up, the star explained before revealing she had a hard time getting the cherry-topped dish down from the bakery on Staten Island. .

“I have to tell you that Charlotte Russe has no political affiliations, and the place that made this one refused to make them for me,” the actress explained as the crowd gasped.

Her co-hosts also reacted strongly to the information, with Sunny Hostin asking, “Oh, really?” and Sara Haines immediately spit out her bite, causing the audience to laugh.

“They said their ovens were broken, all kinds of things, but people went and got them anyway,” Goldberg explained, “that’s why I’m not telling you who made them.”

But the Sister Act star theorized, “It can’t be because I’m a woman, but maybe they didn’t like my politics.”

“But that’s okay,” Goldberg continued, “because you know what? Listen, this is my mother’s party. Pick this up and celebrate with me and my mom. I want to thank everyone for celebrating my birthday today.”

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Following the actress’ claim that the bakery rejected her because of her politics and used technical difficulties as an excuse, Holtermann’s Bakery owner Jill Holtermann denied this and told EW that “it wasn’t because of political” preferences, but rather because “we had problems with our boilers.”

Holtermann said that The view co-host initially requested treats for a Nov. 6 talk show appearance and her birthday broadcast, both of which the baker declined to do because she “didn’t want to make a commitment that I can’t keep.” ”

“I told Whoopi, ‘I can’t do it right now,’” she told the outlet. “We have so many things going on with my boiler,” because the building is from 1930, so when they called me, I had no idea (if we could) bake anything.”

The bakery’s owner also corroborated Goldberg’s claim that a woman, neither of whom identified herself, came to pick up about 50 Charlotte Russe desserts on the morning of Nov. 13, which the owner said she eventually delivered despite the boiler problems could make.

She told me too EW that she didn’t know who the woman was, or if she had any ties to Goldberg or The view.

PEOPLE has contacted Holtermann’s Bakery and The view for further comment, but did not immediately hear back.