On December 30, 2022, legendary news journalist and television personality Barbara Walters passed away. Walters was one of the most well-known journalists in the industry and shattered the glass ceiling for many female journalists who came after her. Throughout her storied career, Walters worked as a researcher and then an anchor for networks owned by both ABC and NBC. When she signed a $5 million contract with ABC in the 1970s, she became the highest-paid news anchor ever.
Ms. Walters is perhaps best known for her work on ABC Evening News and 20/20. She has interviewed everyone from Michael Jackson to Barbra Streisand, Indira Gandhi, and Vladimir Putin. She also interviewed every sitting U.S. President and their wives, from Richard Nixon to Barack Obama. Walters spoke with Donald Trump and Joe Biden, but not when they were sitting presidents.
Walters was also the driving force behind the creation of the daily talk show, The View. The View starred a number of notable women, who would talk about major stories and debate their opinions. Walters was on the show from its premiere in 1997 until her retirement in 2014. She would then occasionally appear between 2014 and 2015.
It is her work on The View that has brought the executive producer back into the headlines.
Former ESPN anchor Sage Steele recently went on The Megyn Kelly Show and accused the late Barbara Walters of assaulting her. Steele claimed that, after a disagreement the two women had on The View, Walters elbowed her in the stomach on purpose. Steele further claimed that producers saw the alleged incident, and she was comforted by cohost Whoopi Goldberg.
A representative for Ms. Walters’ estate vehemently denied the story when asked. They made a short statement to Insider.
“I find this impossible to believe and uncharacteristic of Barbara!”
This is not the first time that Ms. Steele has gone after Disney or someone in the Disney family. Steele recently settled a lawsuit she filed against Disney for violation of her First Amendment rights.
Throughout her career at ESPN, Steele made a number of controversial comments. This includes claiming that former President Barack Obama should not call himself black – his mother is white, and his father is black. She also criticized Disney for its COVID health and safety procedures and said that women should watch how they dress if they don’t want to be sexually harassed or assaulted.
