An "Evasive" View: GLAAD Unhappy with Talk Show's Response to Controversial HIV Comments

The feud between GLADD and The View is far from over.

On June 22, comedian D.L. Hughley co-hosted the ABC talk show. He and Sherri Shepherd got into a discussion about the prominence of HIV among African-Americans, both agreeing that it exists because gay black men ("on the down low") have sex with women.

"When you look at the prevalence of HIV in the African American community, it's primarily young women who are getting it from men who are on the down low," Hughley said.

However, the Centers for Disease Control has provided numbers that disprove this theory.

Therefore, GLADD has demanded a retraction and an apology from the show, taking out a full page ad in Monday's Variety expressing its displeasure with ABC and the hosts.

Yesterday, the network released the following statement:

"[D]uring a discussion about blood donation and the transmission of HIV/AIDS, a guest moderator on the show expressed his interpretation of data about one way the virus can be transmitted. The topic of HIV/AIDS has been raised many times over the show's 13 years, with many voices and opinions contributing to a conversation that we expect to continue as long as The View is on the air."

That was it. Doesn't exactly say much, does it?

In response, Cindi Craeger - GLAAD's director of national news - described the statement as "evasive" and said: "This program reaches millions of viewers and ABC must ensure that its platforms aren't used to perpetuate dangerous falsehoods that put our community in harm's way." (thehollywoodgossip)

There is a fine line between expressing one's opinion and tossing around discriminating statements that contradict facts. Did Hughley and The View cross it? You tell us.