Whoopi Goldberg clears the air about 'farting' incident on The View

Whoopi Goldberg has finally put 'fart-gate' to rest by passing off the supposed bout of flatulence on talk show, The View as an unexplained sound effect.

Goldberg, 59, appeared to pass wind on the US talk show on Wednesday during a Hot Topics debate with singer Ashanti on flu jabs.

The actress shifted awkwardly in her seat while co-host Rosie O’Donnell started fanning the air before the other panellists joined in by picking up pieces of paper and frantically waving them up and down.

But Golberg insists that the incident was a joke to cover up an unexplained sound effect.

Speaking on The View she said: "There was a sound effect that we had never heard before. I'm thinking, 'Damn, that's weird, what can I do?' Oh, I know! I'm gonna pretend I let a little something go. As a joke.

"Now, these folks are emailing people, running up on people saying, 'How do you feel about the fart that Whoopi did on The View?' It's a joke!

"I know you think that I don't [make jokes] any more, I do, I make funnies. I don't fart on air for real!

"So everybody relax, I didn't fart on air, it was a joke."