Being accused of being a racist elicits a strong response from most people, but Anderson Cooper had two words last night.
“How so?” Cooper responded to embattled Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling during their exclusive interview after Sterling said, “I think you’re more of a racist than I am.”
“I’m not a racist, I’ve never been a racist, and I’ll never be a racist,” Sterling emphatically told Cooper, tearfully apologizing for comments he made to his girlfriend V. Stiviano on a leaked audio tape. After apologizing, Sterling made more comments about former NBA star Magic Johnson.
“He acts so holy, he made love to every girl in every city in America, and he had AIDS…” Sterling said about Johnson, later adding Johnson hasn’t done enough for minorities. Cooper corrected Sterling, noting Johnson has HIV, not AIDS.
Before the interview aired last night, Cooper spoke with “New Day” Monday morning, answering Chris Cuomo’s question on the suggestion Sterling has the early symptoms of dementia. “He’s fully aware of what he’s saying…he seems totally competent,” Cooper said.
Both videos after the jump.