'The View' Fans Rally Behind Sunny Hostin's Response to ABC Executive's Alleged Racist Remarks

Fans of The View are showing their support for Sunny Hostin after an ABC News executive allegedly made racist remarks about the beloved co-host.

On Saturday, The Huffington Post published a piece detailing a string of racist and "insensitive" things Barbara Fedida, senior vice president of talent and business, said about Sunny and other journalists at the network. According to Yashar Ali, the journalist who published the piece, Fedida referred to The View star and ABC News legal analyst as "low rent." There were also alleged incidents involving Good Morning America co-anchor Robin Roberts and reporters Mara Schiavocampo and Kendis Gibson.

Fedida is now on administrative leave and the network is conducting an independent investigation into the allegations made. ABC News responded to the report with the following statement:

"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."

In a statement shared on The View Monday morning, Fedida called the claims "heartbreaking" and "incredibly misleading." She also said she was "proud of my decades of work hiring, supporting, and promoting talented journalists of color."

Barbara Fedida in November 2019.

Addressing the controversy, Sunny told fellow co-hosts Whoopi Goldberg, Meghan McCain, and Joy Behar that it was a "tough weekend" for her.

"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, 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.' To reference Kendis Gibson, who was my office mate at ABC and now is an MSNBC anchor, to say that he 'isn't worth paying as much as ABC would pay for toilet paper.' The fact that Mara Schiavocampo, who is a friend and a former colleague at ABC, the fact that she has an NDA in place and can't talk about her experiences at ABC, tells me that systemic racism touches everything and everyone in our society, regardless of social stature. No one is immune.

It's the type of racism that Black people deal with every single day, and it has to stop. And I look forward to the results of what I hear is going to be an independent external investigation, and I felt very loved and supported by my colleagues. I felt supported by all of you. I know Meghan and I had at least an hour conversation this weekend. Whoopi, you were so supportive. Joy you were so supportive, my executive producers on the show were so supportive. And I thank you all for that. But again, this has got to stop."

Sunny concluded that she "looks forward to changes" at ABC and in our country.

On YoutTube, where a clip of Sunny's response was posted, fans rallied behind the co-host for sharing her thoughts. "Sunny is smart, eloquent and brings the most to these debates everyday. Shame on Barbara if these allegations are true," one fan wrote. "Blessings to you Sunny, stay strong," another said. "Sunny looks like she needs a hug. We know you are strong and fabulous, Sunny!" a different fan replied.

Sunny co-hosting on The View in February 2020.

On the show, The View cast vocalized their support of Sunny and ABC's investigation.

"I'm very sorry that Sunny's been hurt by this," Joy began. "As she said, we stick with our girls, we support each other. I think it's great that ABC is doing an intensive investigation. This type of thing has to be rooted out and we'll see what happens."

Meghan chimed in: "Look, all of us have zero tolerance for any kind of racism or intolerance period. Sunny and I did have a long conversation this weekend. She's in a lot of pain and I am disgusted by these allegations as everyone is. And I just want to make one thing really clear: There's a lot of people that say a lot things about these hosts and this show in the press, but when you attack one of us, you're attacking all of us. And I stand and support Sunny throughout all of this in any way that you need. And I stand and support my colleagues at ABC who have been attacked like this."

When it came time for Whoopi to speak, the Oscar-winning actress revealed that she knew Fedida personally and didn't "think she's a racist."

"Everything I know about her doesn't say that she has this in her," Whoopi said, while also explaining that she thinks it's important to wait for the investigation to reveal what happened.

"An independent investigation is what this needs, because you know the days of systemic racism are ending. Those walls are coming down and we're pulling them down," Whoopi elaborated.

Whoopi ended the emotional segment with a message to "racists out there": "We know you. And if you turn out to be in the walls of the building, we're tearing the building down. You're coming out."