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The woman behind the visor—and the incriminating tape of LA Clipper owner Donald Sterling saying awful, racist things—told Barbara Walters that Sterling isn't racist. V. Stiviano said, "I don't believe it in my heart." However, she has heard him say many terrible things.
In the 20/20 interview, Stiviano said, "I think Mr. Sterling is from a different generation than I am. I think he was brought up to believe these things … segregation, whites and blacks." Also, Sterling is apparently very upset and feels betrayed, "I think he’s highly more traumatized and hurt by the things that he said himself. think he can’t even believe or understand sometimes the thing he says, and I think he’s hurt by it. He’s hurting right now."
The audiotape featuring Stiviano and, allegedly, Sterling has the real estate mogul saying things like "It bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you’re associating with black people. Do you have to?" and "You can sleep with [black people]. You can bring them in, you can do whatever you want. The little I ask you is not to promote it on that ... and not to bring them to my games." He has been banned from the NBA for life and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is confident that the owners will vote to force him to sell the team.
Stiviano also told Walters, "There’s been a number of occasions where Mr. Sterling and I had conversations just like this one. This was one of very many. Part of what the world heard was only 15 minutes. There’s a number of other hours that the world doesn’t know.." Also, she wears the visor to "mask the pain."
She also denied being his girlfriend and characterized herself as his personal assistant, "I'm Mr. Sterling's right hand arm... man. I'm his everything, his confidant, his best friend. His silly rabbit." When Walters asked if Sterling called her "silly rabbit," Stiviano said she calls herself that.
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Stiviano insisted, "He's not a racist. He’s shown to be a very generous and kind man." Well, not generous enough to pay her off.
