Cynthia Erivo called Sunny Hostin over backlash to Cornell sexual assault remarks

Cynthia Erivo called her friend Sunny Hostin after the The View co-host faced backlash over her comments about the alleged sexual assault case involving a former Cornell University student.

Hostin revealed that Erivo reached out to her from Paris after seeing a clip of her discussion of the case. Erivo, who is currently working on a film about consent and sexual assault, told Hostin that the clip did not reflect the person she knew.

“She called me and said, ‘Sis, I know you and I know your heart and your life’s work has been about protecting women and children. But, the clip that I saw doesn’t reflect who you are,’” Hostin recalled during an episode of her Behind the Table podcast.

According to Hostin, Erivo also encouraged her to reconsider how she presented her legal analysis of the case. Rather than leading with the law, Erivo suggested that Hostin lead with empathy so audiences could better understand the legal points she was trying to make.

Hostin said the advice resonated with her because both women are “blunt” and have developed a close friendship as members of the same sorority. She explained that Erivo told her she had learned to express her opinions in a way that allowed people to receive the message rather than simply leading with bluntness.

Hostin had faced intense criticism after discussing the case on The View and questioning aspects of the alleged victim’s 2024 statement. As a former federal prosecutor, Hostin focused on New York’s laws concerning consent and voluntary intoxication, arguing that the legal framework made the case difficult to prosecute.

She later clarified her position on the programme, saying she believed the allegations were morally disturbing and that she would have prosecuted the case if it had come to her under the laws in Washington, D.C. Hostin maintained that the issue was New York law rather than a defence of the alleged actions.

Hostin also acknowledged the distinction between the legal and moral questions surrounding the allegations, saying that the morality of what allegedly happened was very different from the legality under the current law. She said Erivo’s advice helped her approach the discussion differently during subsequent appearances.

The Cornell case involves a former student identified in legal filings as Jane Doe, who filed a lawsuit against the university, members of the Chi Phi fraternity and others. Cornell has said its offices investigated and adjudicated the allegations according to university policies, while the fraternity chapter remains barred from campus.