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dalton99a

(81,488 posts) Sun Jun 14, 2020, 12:18 AM Jun 2020

'To Say That She's An Abusive Figure Is An Understatement': At ABC News, Toxicity Thrives

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/abc-news-toxicity-thrives_n_5ee3db80c5b684a0c4f2e297

‘To Say That She’s An Abusive Figure Is An Understatement’: At ABC News, Toxicity Thrives
Sources say Barbara Fedida, a powerful ABC News executive, has an extensive history of insensitive comments. She’s now been placed on administrative leave while the network investigates.
By Yashar Ali

In 2018, Barbara Fedida, a senior ABC News executive in charge of talent, was sitting in a meeting with colleagues discussing fraught contract negotiations with one of ABC’s biggest stars, “Good Morning America” anchor Robin Roberts.

Roberts, a Black woman who has co-anchored “Good Morning America” since 2005, wanted more money as part of a contract renewal, and Fedida felt that Roberts had gotten enough. Fedida then asked what more Roberts could want and said it wasn’t as if the network was asking Roberts to “pick cotton,” according to one source who was in the room and witnessed the exchange. Two other sources who were not present but were told about the incident soon afterward confirmed the account to HuffPost.

Fedida also would refer to women as “c--ts” openly in the office, according to several staffers who personally heard her use the word.

Fedida said in regards to Kendis Gibson, who is Black and at the time was an ABC News anchor, that ABC “spends more on toilet paper than we ever would on him,” a source who heard Fedida make the comment told HuffPost. Another source was told about the comment after the meeting. Gibson now serves as an anchor at MSNBC.