Sunny Hostin responds to ABC exec’s alleged ‘racist’ remarks about her

ABC’s “The View” co-host Sunny Hostin said Monday she was “disappointed and saddened” over racist comments allegedly made by an ABC News executive directed toward her and other black employees. 

“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, because if true … [it] tells me that systemic racism touches everything and everyone in our society regardless of social status. No one is immune,” Hostin said on “The View.” 

Hostin said Barbara Fedida, a senior ABC News executive in charge of talent, allegedly referred to her as “low rent.” 

Fedida’s alleged comments were first reported by HuffPost.

Fedida, who oversees hiring and diversity programs for the network in her role as senior vice president, was put on administrative leave after the report was published outlining her alleged comments, including lashing out at “Good Morning America” co-anchor Robin Roberts. 

Hostin said Fedida’s alleged comments are “the type of racism that black people deal with every single day.”

“And it has to stop. I look forward to the results of what I hear is going to be an independent external investigation,” she said. 

“I just look forward to changes, if all of this is true, here at ABC and just in our country,” she added. 

Hostin said she felt loved and supported by her “View” co-hosts and executive producers. 

In a statement, an ABC News spokesperson said Fedida has been placed on administrative as an investigation is conducted. 

“There are deeply disturbing allegations in this story that we need to investigate, and we have placed Barbara Fedida on administrative leave while we conduct a thorough and complete investigation. These allegations do not represent the values and culture of ABC News, where we strive to make everyone feel respected in a thriving, diverse and inclusive workplace,” the spokesperson said. 

Fedida denied the allegations in a statement issued through her attorney to ABC News and HuffPost. 

“I am proud of my decades of work of hiring, supporting and promoting talented journalists of color,” the statement said. “And, unlike these heartbreaking and incredibly misleading claims about me, that track record is well-documented and undeniable.”