Sunny Hostin Says Don Lemon and Tiffany Cross’ Firings Sent Media ‘Backwards’

Sunny Hostin, Don Lemon, and Tiffany Cross
Lars Niki/Getty Images for Help USA, Cindy Ord/Getty Images, Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for MVAAFF

Sunny Hostin shared her View about two recent cable-news dismissals, saying that CNN firing Don Lemon this month and MSNBC firing Tiffany Cross in November sent media “backwards a bit.”

Hostin commented on those shake-ups at the second annual Politics & Inclusion Dinner in Washington D.C., on Friday, April 28, when People asked her about diversity in the media.

“I’d like to see improvement with more representation,” the co-host of The View said. “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.”

MSNBC fired Cross, then the host of The Cross Connection, in November 2022 — with Variety later reporting that network president Rashida Jones gave Cross the axe because Cross ignored Jones’ directives for the show. (Sources also told the magazine that Cross told Hostin during a visit to the set of The View days later that she had issues with Cross’ tone on air for nearly a year before letting Cross go.)

Lemon, on the other hand, lost his job co-hosting CNN This Morning on April 24 after various controversies, including the comments he made in February about middle-aged women not being “in their prime” and a recent Variety report about his alleged misogynistic behavior at CNN.

“I’m pretty disappointed, actually, in the state of things,” Hostin added at Friday’s event. “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, who previously served as a host and legal analyst for CNN, told People that she’s biased in regards to Lemon, since he’s been a friend of hers for 10 years. “I know him extremely well, and it doesn’t make sense to me. It is not my experience with him,” she said. “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.”




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  1. C

    CyanTree

    It's unfortunate when anyone loses a job. Don Lemon was fired for his pushback to A East Indian white nationalist who said "the NRA gave the slaves guns after reconstruction" and obvious rewriting of history. Lemon pushed back and his producers fired him.

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    PurpleFlame

    When they fired Chris Como they lost part of me now Don Lemon ,I am black ,color has nothing to do with this ,its just like ABC firing two adults for falling in love ,I am encouraging all my friends to give CNN the boot and ABC which we have been doing

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  3. P

    PurpleRing

    Well Sunny I used to like u but your to much back in the day yes now not much there are always two sides to every story and you have to analyze both with your friends with the one or you're just doing it because the person of color unfortunately I don't see the color but unfortunately in today's society we're back to where we were in years ago again maybe the media shouldn't be biased for one person to another and keep Politics on an even kill Democrats Republicans we can't do that because of the audience obsessed about one person and one person only the country's going to s**** and just to let you know I'm an independent I used to be a Democrat on paper but I voted how I felt and what what president would do something for me I said normal average person who works for a living and has a family and I carry the insurance on my family not my husband my husband was a lot of hours but that's not the point I watch who I want to watch if I don't like them I don't like them and has nothing to do with.

    Oh and by the way I'm a white woman and I'm 60 years old and a grandmother of

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  4. O

    OrangePopcorn

    I am lost about Don Lemon's firing concerning" middle age" she is that is a fact. Correct me if that's what was said. So the comment on The President dying in 5 years is not inappropriate? Confused here

  5. C

    CyanTag

    For the idiots they asked her about DIVERSITY which they lack at all big news stations..stop watching MSNBC when they fired Chris Matthews. But seriously Tiffany Cross tone?! Microaggression much? that's why if you want to see black news anchors go to the Grio.

  6. P

    PurpleFlame

    Even though I don't agree with him ,he should never be fired, the producers are at fault

    1. S

      Scott Barenz

      Yeah definitely. He didn't agree with all of the beliefs of Fox and wouldn't push the agendas they wanted... I'm sure they're regretting it now

  7. G

    GreenBone

    ABC has set media back for years for not firing the whole lot on the View.

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  8. G

    GoldWheel

    I think because of the sale of CNN to Republicans they want to slowly change the narrative on the news channel without losing their viewers. They want to go from far left to center right and to do that They must find those Django newscasters that fit the Clarence Thomas mode He looks like them But his religion is with us. So bringing Charles Barkley and Gayle King They definitely won't rock the boat. But Don lemon made a mistake by disagreeing with guests and looking angry at the same time. Looking like the angry scary black man will get you fired every time. So Don lemon on your next job learn to disagree with a big smile on your face My wife does it all the time and she's still alive

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  9. S

    Scott Barenz

    She only cares cause they're black... Everyone on that stupid show is so delusional, it's hard to believe anyone under the age of 70 listens to them

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  10. B

    BlueClover

    There are enough of white people to cancel and still white folks want it all. It is hard for me to listen to white people,they speak with double tongues.

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  11. G

    GoldFlame

    Name the incident, your just talking racist code words

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  12. C

    CyanDog

    So she doesn't care about the actual news just the fact that these people happen to not be white, very progressive view...

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    1. R

      RedWrench

      Well...it's a fact

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    OrangeLamp

    Everyone on the view is racist

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  14. O

    OrangeRaindrop

    She favors canceling white people for mistakes or missteps but when it is a minority involved she doesn't like it!!! Well you want equality you get the good and the bad!! You cause a fuss you take the lumps and the hosts of the View deserve some lumps instead of a pass

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    1. R

      RedWrench

      Sunny is not like that. You're insinuating that she is racist? She's stating her opinion they just happen to be Black

  15. R

    RedSeahorse

    It seems that the comments by Sunny Hostin are, primarily, Racially Motivated. Sunny, let me know if I am wrong.

    Personally, I do my best to promote mental diversity rather than racial diversity.

    In my opinion, Racial Diversity has a tendency to have no value in most cases.

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