Photo: Manny Carabel/Getty for Sergio Hudson; Taylor Hill/WireImage; Monica Schipper/WireImageSunny Hostin, co-host on ABC’sThe View, told PEOPLE that she thinks the media went “backwards a bit” with the abrupt firings of CNN’s Don Lemon and MSNBC’sTiffany Cross.Lemon was the co-host ofCNN This Morningand Cross hostedThe Cross Connectionon Saturday mornings. Lemon, 57, wasfired last week from the network, on which he had been a media personality for 17 years. Cross, 44,departedMSNBC last November.Hostin made her remarks at a pre-White House Correspondents' Dinner event on Friday evening.Cindy Ord/GettyHostin shared her thoughts when asked for her assessment of diversity in the media compared to a year ago.“I’d like to see improvement with more representation. I thought, you know, we were in a place where we had people and voices like Don Lemon and like Tiffany Cross. And I think we’re seeing the media go backwards a bit when you’re looking at people that have been the voice of news and addressing head-on in an unfiltered and unvarnished way, the real-life and lived experience of people of color,” she said.“So I’m pretty disappointed, actually, in the state of things, but I’m hopeful when you see a room like this, that there are going to be a bunch of young journalists that will be vulnerable and fearless and go after it,” Hostin added.Hostin emphasized that she is “biased” as it relates to the Lemon situation, specifically.Leigh Vogel/Getty for Concordia Summit"I am biased because I’ve been his friend for 10 years. Our offices were right across the hall from each other at CNN. I vacationed with him. I know him extremely well, and it doesn’t make sense to me. It is not my experience with him. It is not the experience that I saw with other journalists," she said.“I was on the ground with him in Ferguson. I was on the ground with him in South Carolina for the shootings there, the church. I have covered many stories, and he has made sure to look out for me. He has made sure to give me airtime. I know for a fact when there have been allegations against some of his team members, he has spoken up and spoken out for women. So it’s unfortunate that this narrative is coming out — or is being played out — because I don’t think it’s true,” she added.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.CBS Morningsco-host Gayle King was also asked for her view of diversity in the media landscape over the last year.“Well, you already know, we still have a long way to go. I can’t honestly say, ‘look what’s happened in a year,'” she said at the event. “It’s why we’re still here doing this.”
Photo: Manny Carabel/Getty for Sergio Hudson; Taylor Hill/WireImage; Monica Schipper/WireImage
Sunny Hostin, co-host on ABC’sThe View, told PEOPLE that she thinks the media went “backwards a bit” with the abrupt firings of CNN’s Don Lemon and MSNBC’sTiffany Cross.Lemon was the co-host ofCNN This Morningand Cross hostedThe Cross Connectionon Saturday mornings. Lemon, 57, wasfired last week from the network, on which he had been a media personality for 17 years. Cross, 44,departedMSNBC last November.Hostin made her remarks at a pre-White House Correspondents’ Dinner event on Friday evening.Cindy Ord/GettyHostin shared her thoughts when asked for her assessment of diversity in the media compared to a year ago.“I’d like to see improvement with more representation. I thought, you know, we were in a place where we had people and voices like Don Lemon and like Tiffany Cross. And I think we’re seeing the media go backwards a bit when you’re looking at people that have been the voice of news and addressing head-on in an unfiltered and unvarnished way, the real-life and lived experience of people of color,” she said.“So I’m pretty disappointed, actually, in the state of things, but I’m hopeful when you see a room like this, that there are going to be a bunch of young journalists that will be vulnerable and fearless and go after it,” Hostin added.Hostin emphasized that she is “biased” as it relates to the Lemon situation, specifically.Leigh Vogel/Getty for Concordia Summit"I am biased because I’ve been his friend for 10 years. Our offices were right across the hall from each other at CNN. I vacationed with him. I know him extremely well, and it doesn’t make sense to me. It is not my experience with him. It is not the experience that I saw with other journalists," she said.“I was on the ground with him in Ferguson. I was on the ground with him in South Carolina for the shootings there, the church. I have covered many stories, and he has made sure to look out for me. He has made sure to give me airtime. I know for a fact when there have been allegations against some of his team members, he has spoken up and spoken out for women. So it’s unfortunate that this narrative is coming out — or is being played out — because I don’t think it’s true,” she added.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.CBS Morningsco-host Gayle King was also asked for her view of diversity in the media landscape over the last year.“Well, you already know, we still have a long way to go. I can’t honestly say, ‘look what’s happened in a year,'” she said at the event. “It’s why we’re still here doing this.”
Sunny Hostin, co-host on ABC’sThe View, told PEOPLE that she thinks the media went “backwards a bit” with the abrupt firings of CNN’s Don Lemon and MSNBC’sTiffany Cross.
Lemon was the co-host ofCNN This Morningand Cross hostedThe Cross Connectionon Saturday mornings. Lemon, 57, wasfired last week from the network, on which he had been a media personality for 17 years. Cross, 44,departedMSNBC last November.
Hostin made her remarks at a pre-White House Correspondents’ Dinner event on Friday evening.
Cindy Ord/Getty
Hostin shared her thoughts when asked for her assessment of diversity in the media compared to a year ago.
“I’d like to see improvement with more representation. I thought, you know, we were in a place where we had people and voices like Don Lemon and like Tiffany Cross. And I think we’re seeing the media go backwards a bit when you’re looking at people that have been the voice of news and addressing head-on in an unfiltered and unvarnished way, the real-life and lived experience of people of color,” she said.
“So I’m pretty disappointed, actually, in the state of things, but I’m hopeful when you see a room like this, that there are going to be a bunch of young journalists that will be vulnerable and fearless and go after it,” Hostin added.
Hostin emphasized that she is “biased” as it relates to the Lemon situation, specifically.
Leigh Vogel/Getty for Concordia Summit
“I am biased because I’ve been his friend for 10 years. Our offices were right across the hall from each other at CNN. I vacationed with him. I know him extremely well, and it doesn’t make sense to me. It is not my experience with him. It is not the experience that I saw with other journalists,” she said.
“I was on the ground with him in Ferguson. I was on the ground with him in South Carolina for the shootings there, the church. I have covered many stories, and he has made sure to look out for me. He has made sure to give me airtime. I know for a fact when there have been allegations against some of his team members, he has spoken up and spoken out for women. So it’s unfortunate that this narrative is coming out — or is being played out — because I don’t think it’s true,” she added.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
CBS Morningsco-host Gayle King was also asked for her view of diversity in the media landscape over the last year.
“Well, you already know, we still have a long way to go. I can’t honestly say, ‘look what’s happened in a year,'” she said at the event. “It’s why we’re still here doing this.”
source: people.com
