ABC News Staffers Reeling Over Allegations

James Goldston and Barbara Fedida

ABC News personnel were reeling Monday over a report that one of its top executives used racist language in her discussions about Black on-air talent at the network.

The L-A Times reports Barbara Fedida, senior vice president of talent, editorial strategy and business affairs for the news division was put on administrative leave over the weekend as parent Walt Disney Co. conducts an investigation into allegations of abusive comments raised in a HuffPost report published Saturday.

Several ABC News insiders who were not authorized to comment publicly believe Fedida is likely negotiating an exit from the company. The controversy could also be problematic for the future of ABC News President James Goldston, who relied heavily on Fedida.

The report surfaced amid the country’s reckoning on race relations that has occurred since the May 25 death of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man killed by a white Minneapolis police officer. Those discussions have already led to changes in several media organizations where management was found to be unresponsive to concerns about diversity and fair treatment in the workplace.

Peter Rice, chairman of Walt Disney Television, told employees Monday that an investigation into Fedida’s alleged remarks will be overseen by the company’s general counsel.

“ABC News must be a place where all employees can thrive in a diverse and inclusive environment,” Rice wrote in a memo obtained by The Times. “Everyone has the right to feel fully respected and supported at work, with the opportunity to be heard and to contribute in meaningful ways. You can be assured that once this investigation is concluded, we will take whatever actions are necessary.”

An ABC News representative declined to comment on the status of the investigation.