Sunny Hostin used a recent episode of The View to address the alleged racist comments made from a top ABC News executive — Barbara Fedida, who is the Senior Vice President of Talent, Editorial Strategy, and Business Affairs for the news division.
In an article published by the HuffPost, Fedida allegedly made derogatory, racist remarks about Hostin, Good Morning America anchor Robin Roberts, and several others.
“It was a tough weekend for me, and I was really disappointed and saddened and hurt when I learned about the racist comments that were made, allegedly, about me, my colleagues, and my dear friends,” Hostin said. “Because, if true, to reference Robin Roberts, who is one of the most respected and beloved journalists in our country, as ‘picking cotton,’ to reference me, someone who’s been very open about having grown up in public housing, as being ‘low rent’… tells me that systemic racism touches everything and everyone in our society regardless of social stature.”
Fedida allegedly referred to Hostin as “low rent.” While in contract negotiation discussion about Roberts’ contract, she allegedly asked what more Roberts could want and said it wasn’t as if the network was asking Roberts to ‘pick cotton.'”
Fedida has since been placed on administrative leave as an independent party investigates the allegations.