ABC Executive Reportedly Used The Phrase “Pick Cotton” Towards TV Veteran Robin Roberts During Contract Negotiations, Currently On Administrative Leave

Walt Disney Co., the owner of ABC, is currently investigating Barbara Fedida, senior vice president of talent, after 34 anonymous sources revealed that she had made racist remarks against employees of color, including “Good Morning America” co-host, Robin Roberts.

Since her time with Network (1986-2006, 2011- Now), Fedida has played an important part in the development and recruiting aspect on on-air talent at ABC, which includes top-rated TV programs “Good Morning America” and “ABC World News Tonight.” 

Most of Fedida’s alleged comments reported by sources were allegedly made regarding Black on-air talent.

While negotiating a new contract for ABC news veteran Robin Roberts, Fedida reportedly told stated that the network was not asking Roberts to “pick cotton.” Roberts, a well-respected employee of ABC, is a Black woman from Tuskegee, AL. In response to disturbing allegations against Fedida, the network revealed in a statement that they will be conducting an investigation against Fedida’s behavior.

In a different encounter, while discussing former network anchor Kendis Gibson, Fedida reportedly stated that the network “spends more on toilet paper than we ever would on him.”

Gibson, now of MSNBC, tweeted that he was shocked and disappointed by Fedida’s alleged comments towards him.

In a statement on Saturday, an ABC News representative stated: 

“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.”

Byron Pitts, a Black ABC News anchor, gave The Huffman Post a different perspective of Fedida, but also says he respects his colleagues, who may have had a different experience with her. In his statement to the news outlet, Pitts commented:

“My personal experience with Barbara Fedida is that she is not racist. I know what racism looks, smells, and sounds like. Barbara Fedida is not any of those things. But I am respectful of other colleagues who have had a different experience.”

Through her lawyer, Fedida responded to The Huffman Report about her behavior at ABC.

“Throughout my career, I have been a champion for increased diversity in network news,” the statement said. “Building a news division where everyone can thrive has been my life’s mission. I am proud of my decades of work [in] hiring, supporting, and promoting talented journalists of color. And, unlike these heartbreaking and incredibly misleading claims about me, that track record is well-documented and undeniable.”

The National Association for Black Journalists (NABJ) has called for the network to conduct a clear, external investigation into the allegations against Fedida and has asked for ABC to waive Non-Disclosure Agreements “for black employees & other employees of color.”

In a statement, the organization said:

“The external investigation by ABC News should be transparent, and all findings must be published and broadcast. This is appropriate because Fedida was no second-tier executive.”

The network has placed Barbara Fedida on administrative leave, pending the outcome of the investigation.