Stars Criticize Sara Haines Over Resurfaced Race Remarks

Celebrities including Amanda Seales and Ava DuVernay responded after a 2017 clip of Haines discussing race on The View was posted to Instagram.

Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Celebrities

Empty television talk-show studio with a curved desk, plain chairs, and a pale backdrop under soft overhead studio light. — Stars including Amanda Seales and Ava DuVernay criticized Sara Haines on Friday after Whiteness Studies reposted a 2017 clip of her race remarks on The View. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Whiteness Studies posted a nine-year-old clip of Sara Haines discussing race on The View to Instagram on Friday, drawing criticism from stars on social media. Amanda Seales called Haines' words an example of "[white] womaning," while Ava DuVernay commented "smh."

Why it matters

The clip resurfaced amid ongoing debate over how white allies discuss race on mainstream television, and stars argued Haines' comments were out of touch with the realities faced by Black Americans. The episode highlights how older on-air remarks can return to public scrutiny years later.

The source material is an archived 2017 broadcast clip, nine years old, reposted to Instagram by Whiteness Studies. Reporting does not indicate whether Haines or the show has issued a response.

The players

Sara Haines

Sara Haines is a co-host of ABC's daytime talk show The View, known for offering commentary on current events and pop culture.

Amanda Seales

Amanda Seales is an actress, comedian, and media personality who has been a vocal commentator on race and culture in entertainment.

Ava DuVernay

Ava DuVernay is a filmmaker and director known for works including Selma and 13th, and an outspoken advocate on issues of race and representation.

The details

In the 2017 segment, Haines said she is frustrated when she cannot critique anything as an ally because she is white, and she told co-host Joy Behar she was being discriminated against when Behar said her opinions no longer counted. Whoopi Goldberg responded that "now maybe white folks will understand how we feel when people generalize about us."

2017: Haines made the remarks about race on The View.
Friday, November 6, 2026: Whiteness Studies posted the clip to Instagram.
November 8, 2026: Stars criticized Haines on social media in response.

Industry Dynamics

The resurfacing of Haines' 2017 remarks echoes the on-air debate among The View co-hosts in 2017 over race and discrimination. It shows how archived talk-show segments can be revived on social media and reshape public conversation about the same topics years later.

The original 2017 segment is accessible only through reposted clips on social media rather than through a dedicated archive. Viewers who want the full context can watch the broadcast through The View's own video platforms.

The takeaway

Archived broadcast remarks can resurface years later and reignite debate, so context matters when viewing short clips. Reading the full segment rather than a reposted excerpt gives a clearer picture of what was actually said.