14 DAY TRIAL // ABC has aired the 20/20 segment with V. Stiviano, the woman believed to be behind the leak of those two audio recordings painting LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling as a bitter racist. It was truly one of the most bizarre, rambling, and inaccurate chats ever conducted by TV veteran Barbara Walters.
And it wasn’t because of something she did, or because she didn’t ask the right questions. As you can see for yourself in the segment embedded below, Stiviano tried to build a defense case for Sterling, of whom she said she loved with all her heart despite his mistake.
The mistake she’s talking about is that of urging her to stop “broadcasting” her association with black people on her Instagram and to stop mixing in public with minorities. Stiviano recorded the conversation and “somehow” it ended up online.
The scandal was huge and it cost Sterling his Clippers team because the NBA banned him for life, fined him $2.5 million (€1.8 million), and promised to force him to sell the team. He’s reportedly determined not to do that last part, but chances are he won’t be able to fight it.
Stiviano sat down with Walters for an interview which was also supposed to feature Sterling, except that he changed his mind at the last minute, after arriving at the meet point and storming out saying he wasn’t ready yet.
She claims that Sterling is no racist and paints him as a man who is so remorseful and so hurt by the way he’s been attacked for his racist comments that it’s a wonder he still finds the strength to get out of bed in the morning.
She also tries to explain how come she’s so close to him, denying any romantic involvement whatsoever. At the same time, she says there’s no way to determine whether she’s really on Sterling’s payroll because she’s paid “off the books.”
“I’m Mr. Sterling’s right hand arm. Man. I’m Mr. Sterling’s everything. I’m his confidante, his best friend. His silly rabbit… sometimes people can’t understand our relationship. Our relationship started out, me working for Mr. Sterling, his nonprofit organization… On a level on which it became a big scandal,” she says.
Stiviano corrects Walters when she tries to say that the relationship became “scandalous,” but her explanation is even vaguer.
“I think God has its purpose. And. I wish I can answer that question sometimes. I keep asking myself how and why. The truth is that how and why doesn’t even matter anymore. It’s here. Some things need to be brought to the light. I think sometimes we’re forced into situations, into circumstances in which we have to choose to do good by. Everything and everyone is a test. And I think Mr. Sterling is being tested right now by a higher power or being and I’m forced to come to his rescue. Because he can’t rescue himself,” she says.
One report online claims that, right before the interview, on the way up in the elevator, Sterling was heard yelling at Stiviano, calling her names and urging her to “make this right.” She sure seems to be trying to do just that.