Barbara Walters Nixed Zimmerman Interview Over Hotel Demands

By Alex Weprin 

The New York Post reports, and TVNewser has confirmed, that ABC News anchor Barbara Walters nixed an interview with George Zimmerman at the last minute. Walters flew down to Florida to talk to Zimmerman–already understanding that Sean Hannity would get the first interview–but balked after Zimmerman asked for a one-month stay at a swanky hotel in return.

But we’re told that Walters was “appalled” by Zimmerman’s hotel demand, and told him the deal was off. An ABC News spokesman confirmed that Walters met with Zimmerman, but refused to confirm what he asked for. “She went down there with every intention of doing an interview, but Mr. Zimmerman made a demand at the last minute that we could not and would never agree to,” the rep said.

ABC News very publicly stopped paying for interviews or compensating interviewees last Summer. Fox News says that it did not compensate Zimmerman in any way for the interview, and that Hannity did not give any money to his legal defense fund.

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