Sunny Hostin discusses Cynthia Erivo’s reaction to Cornell assault case comments

Sunny Hostin, co-host of The View and former federal prosecutor, revealed that actress Cynthia Erivo contacted her to discuss Hostin’s recent comments regarding an alleged sexual assault case at Cornell University.

The controversy stems from Hostin’s September 29 analysis of a 2024 decision by the Tompkins County District Attorney not to bring charges against several fraternity members. Hostin argued that the accuser’s initial statements to police—specifically regarding voluntary intoxication and the use of ketamine—made the legal threshold for criminal prosecution extremely difficult to meet under New York law.

Hostin defended her stance on the podcast ‘Behind the Table,’ stating that she approached the topic through a legal lens rather than an emotional one. She noted that Erivo, a friend and sorority sister, called her from Paris to offer advice on how to present legal analysis following the backlash to her original comments.