ABC News has severed ties with an executive long after an investigation by an outside attorney found that she made “racially callous comments” and “used rude and inappropriate language.”
Walt Disney Television President Peter Rice said Monday that Barbara Fedida, who was placed on administrative leave in June for the comments, will not return to the network. Disney is the parent company of ABC.
“The investigation confirmed that Ms. Fedida made some of the racially callous unacceptable comments attributed to her,” Rice wrote in a staff memo. “It also confirmed that Ms. Fedida drove roughly and, at times, used rude and inappropriate language.”
“Finally, the investigation found no basis for claims that Ms. Fedida was the subject of dozens of human resource complaints and that ABC News spent millions of dollars on confidential settlements related to Ms. Fedida, as alleged in some press accounts, “Rice added. .
Fedida, an award-winning producer, served as a senior vice president of talent and business at ABC after joining the network more than 20 years ago.
“Although Ms. Fedida made contributions to the organization during her 20-year career, in light of the overall findings, we have determined that she can no longer serve in a leadership role and will not return to ABC News.” Rice said.
Fedida said in a statement through its attorney to HuffPost last month when the investigation began that the claims against him were “misleading.”
“Throughout my career, I have been an advocate for greater diversity in network news. Building a news division where everyone can prosper has been my life’s mission. I am proud of my decades of recruiting work, support and promotion of talented journalists of color. ” And unlike these heartbreaking and incredibly misleading claims about me, that record is well documented and undeniable, “he said.
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