Cynthia Erivo Challenged Sunny Hostin Over ‘Cornell 7’ Comments on 'The View'

Cynthia Erivo called Sunny Hostin after seeing her controversial “Cornell 7” remarks on The View—and told her friend that what she heard did not match the woman she knew.

Hostin revealed the conversation on the October 5 episode of Behind the Table, saying the Wicked star reached out from Paris amid backlash over her explanation of why prosecutors initially declined to charge seven Cornell fraternity members accused of sexual assault.

“She called me and said, ‘Sis, I know you, and I know your heart and your life’s work has been about protecting women and children. But the clip that I saw doesn’t reflect who you are,’” Hostin recalled.

According to Hostin, Erivo had seen only a clip of the discussion. But her fellow sorority sister still had advice about how she delivered her argument.

“She said she’s had to learn to give people her opinion in a way that they can receive it rather than just be blunt,” Hostin said.

The takeaway, Hostin explained, was that “instead of leading with the law, I need to lead with empathy so that people can receive the message about the law.” She credited that conversation with changing how she approached the next discussion.

Hostin nevertheless rejected the accusations behind the backlash.

“I was accused of defending these young men, and victim-shaming, which is something I would never do since I spent the majority of my career prosecuting sex crimes,” she told executive producer Brian Teta.

Hostin initially defended the decision not to prosecute based on the accuser’s signed statement. During the September 29 broadcast, she emphasized voluntary intoxication and New York’s consent laws.

By October 1, she called the the case “morally repugnant” and said she would have prosecuted the case in Washington, D.C.

The former student, identified as Jane Doe, alleges that seven Chi Phi members drugged and sexually assaulted her in October 2024. Her September lawsuit renewed scrutiny of the investigation. The accused have denied wrongdoing, and none has been charged.

That scrutiny has expanded beyond the legal argument Hostin presented.

CBS News previously obtained a police interview transcript containing Doe’s explicit allegation of rape. Then-prosecutor Matthew Van Houten said he had not received the full transcript before declining charges.

Now, records reviewed by ABC News show campus police received a tip alleging fraternity leaders wanted a potential witness to remain quiet to protect their reputations.

“Chi Phi held a meeting essentially to get all of the men on the same page about what happened,” one student told investigators. A fraternity member disputed that characterization, saying the incident came up during a regular chapter meeting.

ABC also reported that accused member Matthew Ingalls later alleged Doe assaulted him while he was incapacitated and accused Cornell’s disciplinary process of gender discrimination.

New York Attorney General Letitia James is now investigating the case. Separately, Cornell has selected former Justice Department official Sally Yates to lead an outside review of the university’s response.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, help is available. In the U.S., RAINN offers free, confidential support 24/7. Call 800-656-HOPE (4673), text HOPE to 64673, or access online chat through RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline.