Sunny Hostin, co-host of The View and former federal prosecutor, is on a mission to bring attention to domestic violence as an epidemic affecting people across society, regardless of wealth, fame, or social standing. Following the release of the documentary Chris Brown: A History of Violence on Investigation Discovery (ID), Hostin shared that the issues highlighted by the documentary are far-reaching and impact countless lives beyond the celebrity headlines.
The Chris Brown: A History of Violence documentary examines the singer’s years of alleged violent behavior, from his high-profile assault on former girlfriend Rihanna in 2009 to recent accusations of sexual violence. Hostin’s involvement in the post-premiere panel discussion following the documentary aimed to shift the focus beyond celebrity cases and remind viewers that domestic violence affects people from all walks of life.
A Platform to Expose the Reality of Domestic Violence
In her interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Hostin described domestic violence as a “hidden epidemic,” stressing that wealth and fame do not make anyone immune to its effects. “It doesn’t discriminate,” she explained, highlighting the importance of normalizing conversations around intimate partner violence to offer support for survivors and help them recognize that they are not alone.
Her post-doc discussion featured voices from various experts, including Jane Randel, co-founder of NO MORE; Katie Ray-Jones, CEO of The National Domestic Violence Hotline; Alexis Smith, Miss Kansas 2024 and advocate for healthy relationships; journalist Scaachi Koul; and Dr. Carolyn West, a psychologist. Each participant contributed insights on the challenges and stigmas that prevent survivors from coming forward.
Impact of Celebrity Cases on Public Awareness
While high-profile cases like those involving Chris Brown, Harvey Weinstein, and Sean “Diddy” Combs have drawn considerable media coverage, Hostin emphasized the need to address domestic violence as a widespread societal issue, not just a celebrity problem. She pointed out that the fame attached to such cases often overshadows the reality that abuse occurs regularly among people who are not in the public eye.
“This is something that doesn’t only happen to famous people,” Hostin explained. “It doesn’t only happen to Rihanna, or with high-profile figures like R. Kelly or Harvey Weinstein.” She added that stories of everyday survivors need as much attention as those of celebrities to foster genuine change.
Role of Enablers and Societal Silence
One major barrier to progress, Hostin noted, is the presence of enablers who, knowingly or unknowingly, support abusive behaviors by staying silent or even discouraging survivors from speaking up. “I’ve heard stories where family members or friends, instead of believing or supporting a survivor, encourage them to stay with their abusers,” she explained.
Hostin drew a direct line between societal silence and the power that allows domestic violence to persist. Without widespread acknowledgement and action, survivors remain isolated, and abusers continue with little accountability. As seen in cases involving celebrities, influential figures can sometimes build a network of enablers who shield them from facing consequences.
Hostin highlighted that this issue is not limited to those with fame or wealth—abusers in any socio-economic class can have people around them who overlook or even support harmful behaviors. This only reinforces the cycle of abuse, creating an environment where survivors feel trapped and unable to reach out for help.
Raising Awareness through Media
As a board member of Safe Horizon, a national organization working to reduce relationship violence, Hostin sees media as a powerful tool to reach those who may be struggling with intimate partner violence. Her panel after the Chris Brown documentary served to provide practical resources and education for viewers to better understand domestic violence and recognize the signs in their own lives or those of friends and family.
Through the lens of Chris Brown’s story, ID’s No Excuse for Abuse campaign aims to normalize survival stories by showing viewers that escaping abusive relationships and starting anew is possible. The documentary features an extended interview with Jane Doe, one of Brown’s accusers, who shared her account of alleged abuse at a party hosted by rapper Diddy. For Hostin, normalizing such stories can help create a society where survivors are no longer silenced.
Tools for Recognizing Abuse and Empowering Survivors
Hostin believes that education is key in reducing domestic violence, and that people need tools to identify different forms of abuse, which often go beyond physical harm. Domestic violence frequently includes psychological, financial, and sexual abuse, which can be harder to identify and can be deeply isolating for survivors. “It may even be happening to you or someone close to you,” Hostin said, adding that the more educated people are about these signs, the better equipped they will be to recognize abuse.
Her panel discussion covered these aspects, offering insights on how people can support survivors and how survivors can reach out to organizations for help.
The Power of Coming Forward
In the post-#MeToo era, with high-profile cases leading to convictions, Hostin expressed that greater public awareness can create a safer environment for survivors to come forward. However, she also emphasized that societal change requires more than just exposing high-profile abusers—it demands confronting everyday instances of abuse, which often go unnoticed.
“Oftentimes, people see things but stay quiet, maybe out of fear for their job or just not recognizing the signs,” she noted. Through this documentary and the after-show panel, Hostin hopes to empower more people to break the silence, confront enabling behaviors, and support survivors in sharing their stories.
