What Cynthia Erivo Said To Sunny Hostin Following Bold Cornell Remarks

MEGA

Sunny Hostin has shared the advice Cynthia Erivo recently gave her over the viral Cornell 7 case.

“The View” co-host shared that the actress’s words of wisdom came in connection with her previous statements about the viral Cornell rape case that has gained heavy media traction. The alleged incident occurred two years ago but only made its way to the media after the details of the case were revisited.

Sunny Hostin is not the first media personality to speak about the viral Cornell 7 case, nor is Cynthia Erivo the first celebrity to lend her voice in support of the alleged victim.

Sunny Hostin Reveals Cynthia Erivo’s Candid Advice After Cornell 7 Statements

ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

After Hostin’s words about the investigation into the alleged sexual assault at Cornell University made waves, Erivo did not sit in silence. The actress reportedly reached out to the TV host via a phone call, sharing insight into how her words were perceived, sprinkled with heartfelt advice.

Erivo reportedly told Hostin that after watching the clip of her take on the case, she felt like those words did not “reflect” who she is. “Sis, I know you, and I know your heart and your life’s work has been about protecting women and children,” the actress explained during the call.

“The View” co-host revealed this during a Tuesday appearance on the “Behind the Table” podcast, noting that Erivo highlighted that despite her “blunt” personality trait, which they both share, she needs to learn to make some adjustments.

The “Wicked” star, who made the call from Paris, told Hostin, “to learn to give people her opinion in a way that they can receive it rather than just be blunt,” before urging her to “lead with empathy … instead of leading with the law.”

What Did ‘The View’ Co-Host Say About The Case Last Month?

Steven Bergman/AFF-USA.COM / MEGA

Hostin received the phone call from her “good friend” barely a week after she spoke about the seven fraternity brothers accused of gang-raping Jane Doe in October 2024 on the ABC talk show.  

She spoke about the fact that Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten did not bring charges against the men back then. The host said that “there is no way, according to her statement in 2024, that any prosecutor would’ve brought forth a case.” 

Explaining further, Hostin said that “Under New York law, voluntary intoxication or drug use that merely impairs judgment does not legally constitute an inability to consent to sexual activity.”

Hostin added that if one voluntarily takes alcohol or drugs, they can give consent under New York law. Since Jane Doe voluntarily became intoxicated as per her initial statement, it may be deemed that she gave consent to participate in the alleged sexual acts.

• Donald Trump says he feels “badly” for the Cornell 7 frat bros.
• Florence Pugh called out Instagram for seemingly censoring her Cornell remarks.
• Olivia Rodrigo demands accountability from Cornell amid rape case.
• Cornell 7 case takes new turn as one of the accused frat bros claims the alleged victim took advantage of him while intoxicated.

Inside The Alleged 2024 Cornell 7 Sexual Assault Case

The alleged victim, identified by the alias Jane Doe, filed a civil lawsuit against the alleged abusers, also naming the prestigious institution in the suit. In her filing, she states that the seven men who drugged and sexually assaulted her in October 2024 were members of the Chi Phi fraternity.

After reporting the incident to the campus police, Doe claims the alleged abusers faced no strict repercussions as the university prioritized its image as an Ivy League school. The men were reportedly given lenient punishment, including writing an essay.

The university, however, maintains that it conducted a months-long investigation that ultimately resulted in a “range of sanctions, which included expulsions and suspensions from Cornell.”  

As reported by The Blast, Houten clarified that the office of the DA did not prosecute the alleged offenders in 2024 because of Doe’s sworn statement in which she reportedly “described her participation in drug use and sexual conduct as voluntary, conscious, and consensual.”

Social Media Platform Got Caught In The Crosshairs Over The Cornell 7 Case

ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

Instagram got dragged into the issue after Florence Pugh slammed the platform for trying to bury her post. Pugh claimed she posted about the “horrific” case, but her post was grayed out with a crossed-out eye icon and not shown to other users and fans.

“Instagram decided to block my post from getting in front of the right people,” she wrote in a follow-up post showing the original blocked reaction video. The actress noted that reading about the alleged gang raoe made her feel “uneasy and sick and anxious.” 

The Blast reported that a Meta spokesperson later explained why Pugh’s post was initially censored. They clarified that the post was reviewed before it was allowed to go live without restrictions in order to protect victims and other internet users in the younger age bracket.

Cynthia Erivo Previously Spoke Up About Changing The System

ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

Erivo is currently in Paris, where she is working on a movie about consent and sexual assault. “Prima Facie,” which is the film adaptation of Suzie Miller’s acclaimed play, stars the actress as Tessa, a successful criminal defense barrister whose life is turned upside down after a male colleague sexually assaults her.

In the film, Tessa has to navigate the challenges of the legal system as a survivor and fight to seek justice, ultimately proving the rape in court. The “Wicked” star spoke to Reuters ahead of the movie’s world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival  last month, sharing that such stories need to be told,

“Things can feel like they’re permanent if no one does anything to shift or change them. The more we talk about it, the more we see it for what it is, the easier it will become for us to change things,” Erivo noted.

The What Cynthia Erivo Said To Sunny Hostin Following Bold Cornell Remarks first appeared on The Blast