Barbara Walters Speaks with Donald Sterling, Gets V. Stiviano for On-Camera Interview

By Chris Ariens 

WaltersVABCShe may be retiring from TV news later this month, but that isn’t stopping Barbara Walters from going after the big gets.

Walters has been in Los Angeles this week trying to secure an interview with Donald Sterling, the Los Angeles Clippers owner who has been banned from the NBA for making racist comments that were made public last week. She’s also been trying to interview his girlfriend, V. Stiviano, whose voice was also heard on that recording.

“We met with them today, and both agreed to speak to me,” Walters explained on “20/20” last night. “I went back and forth and back and forth. Finally, Donald decided not to be interviewed, but his companion did speak to me.”

Advertisement

“I think he’s more traumatized and hurt by the things he said himself,” Stiviano told Walters. “I think he can’t even believe or understand sometimes the things he says. And i think he’s hurt by it. He’s hurting right now.

Walters: Do you think that Donald Sterling should apologize?
Stiviano: Absolutely.
Walters: Did you discuss this with him?
Stiviano: Yes
Walters: Will he apologize?
Stiviano: Only God knows

WaltersVNBCThe interview came together so late in the day that it didn’t get the massive promotion these kinds of “gets” normally receive. The interview helped “20/20” win its timeslot in the A18-49 demo with a 1.7 rating/5 share, but came in second in total viewers to CBS’ “Blue Bloods” (11.38M vs. 6.98M). It also got play on other media outlets, including on NBC, where the “Today” show played a clip of Watlers’ interview this morning.

Advertisement