“The View” co-host Sunny Hostin argued that “white privilege” and “pretty privilege” played a role in Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark's popularity during the ABC talk show on Wednesday.
“I think there's something called pretty privilege. There's something called white privilege. There's something called high privilege, and we have to recognize that, and part of it has to do with race, because if you think about the Brittney Griner of the world, why had to go play in Russia because they wouldn't pay him,” Hostin said, referring to the WNBA?
“The View” co-hosts were discussing former ESPN host Jemele Hill's argument that Clark owed much of his popularity to his race and sexuality. Hostin said earlier in the discussion that he had no problem with Clark giving the WNBA the attention it so desperately needed.
“Now, Caitlin Clark is bringing this money, these endorsements, we hope, to the league and other players will benefit from it. But I do think she's easier to identify with for more people because she's white, because she's attractive and, unfortunately, There is still that stigma against the LGBTQ+ community. Seventy percent of the WNBA is black. A third of the players are from the LGBTQ+ community and we have to do something about that stigma in this country. Who cares? Does it matter? They are great athletes,” he said.
Sunny Hostin suggests that Caitlin Clark's popularity is part of the privilege of being “white” and “pretty.” (Screenshot/ABC/TheView)
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Co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin said she had become a WNBA fan because Clark was “so fun to watch,” adding that it had nothing to do with the color of her skin. Co-host Whoopi Goldberg argued that Hostin and herself have been trying to draw attention to the WNBA for years.
“These women are often equal to, if not better than, the people you're seeing,” she added.
“Sometimes better than the boys!” Hostin added.
Indiana Fever's Caitlin Clark #22 smiles during the game against New York Liberty on May 18, 2024, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. (Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images)
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Goldberg rejected Hill's comments and said Clark was drawing attention because she was an excellent player.
“For them to reduce her like that really bothered me because this is her record,” Goldberg said, pointing to her card. “Unless you can show me who has a better record than this, that's why she's getting the attention she's getting, because she's a really good player and it doesn't matter if she's straight or gay, no one cries when she makes those balls.”
Hill, in a comment to the Los Angeles Times, also criticized brands like Nike for not sponsoring more diverse players. Clark signed a $28 million contract with the brand after graduating from the University of Iowa.
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“Black women are often written out of the picture,” Hill said. “There is plenty of room to highlight and celebrate Caitlin Clark's popularity while also discussing ways to not erase black women from a league they have built and continue to build.”
