Fox host Sunny Hostin criticized former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley for changing her first name - of Indian origin - in her political life. However, controversy arose when two colleagues of Hostin - who is of black and Puerto Rican descent - revealed that she uses a false name.
The View's Sunny Hostin accused Nikki Haley of not embracing her ethnicity because she goes by the nickname "Nikki" pic.twitter.com/wGtEpbom7k
- News Bro (@Newzbro) September 21, 2022
The topic of conversation on the program was in reference to potential GOP presidential candidates for 2024 and Haley was mentioned as a possible contender. Alyssa Farah Griffin -host of the show- pointed out that the real reason many people change their names is to avoid prejudice at school, giving as an example the case of Nikki Haley:
Nikki Haley, whose real name is Nimrata, has spent her entire life calling herself Nikki, ever since she was a child. It is documented in high school. I wouldn't be surprised if an Indian woman growing up in South Carolina at the time changed her name to avoid prejudice. So I just want to be careful about criticizing it.
Hostin quickly interjected and asked "What's her real name?" adding that he thought Haley would be a more genuine candidate if she "leaned into" her heritage.
Within seconds, Sara Haines - a companion at the show - pointed out Houstin's real name: "Sunny, I don't think that's fair, you have a different name! Your first name is Asuncion."
"That's because most Americans don't know how to pronounce Assumption because of the lack of education in our society . There are some of us can be chameleons and choose not to embrace our ethnicity in order to pass," replied Hostin, pointing to his legal name. Minutes later, the well-known Whoopi Goldberg abruptly ended the conversation.
Nikki Haley accuses her of being a racist
Haley responded to Hostin via her Twitter account, "Thank you for your concern @Sunny. It's racist of you to judge my name."
"Nikki is an Indian name and it's on my birth certificate, and I'm proud of that," Haley continued, adding, What's sad is the hypocrisy of the left toward conservative minorities. By the way, last time I checked Sunny is not your birth name....
Thanks for your concern @Sunny. It's racist of you to judge my name.
Nikki is an Indian name and is on my birth certificate-and I'm proud of that.
What's sad is the left's hypocrisy towards conservative minorities.
By the way, last I checked Sunny isn't your birth name... pic.twitter.com/NI3KZXjD6F
- Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) September 20, 2022
