Donald Sterling Racist Comments Update: V. Stiviano Reveals Truth Behind Scandal on Dr. Phil, Talks Relationship with LA Clippers Owner [Video]
V. Stiviano, the woman in the center of the Donald Sterling scandal, appears on "Dr. Phil" to tell her side of the story and how she has dealt with the media attention.
When asked why she agreed to do an interview on the show, Stiviano says: "I think [he's] the best. I'm here to clear the air, to tell the truth."
While sitting down with the host, the 31-year-old tabloid figure admits to recording the Los Angeles Clippers owner's, 80, infamous racist comments, ordering her to stop hanging out with black men and not to bring any African Americans to the Clippers games. However, she repeatedly insists that she did not leak the tape to the media.
During the interview, Dr. Phil brings up a list of cars, cash and real estate that the 80-year-old man has lavished on his "archivist." He then asks V. Stiviano if she believes his estranged wife Shelly Sterling is jealous. "I wouldn't be surprised if his own children were jealous of me too," she boastfully responds.
Ever since the controversy broke out, Stiviano claims she has enjoyed every moment of attention. "Are you kidding me? I get to experience first-hand what it is to be a celebrity in L.A.," she says enthusiastically. "I have to think about what I'm going to wear, how I'm going to do my hair."
However, she then tries to convince the host that there have been times when all the attention has been too much, and that she wears her visors to hide her pain. "Nobody can really see what I felt and that's why I wore the visor," she says.
Dr. Phil immediately mocks her collection of bizarre oversized visors that she has pulled over her face while rollerblading in public. "You say you were covering up the pain. Then I look at these pictures," he says. "I see you on roller skates in Daisy Duke cutoffs with a color-coordinated welders mask [visors] to match your jacket, out rollerblading in front of the paparazzi."
"That doesn't look like pain to me," he adds. "That looks like attention-getting behavior to me."
V. Stiviano explains that her odd antics are just her way of dealing with pressure. "We all have different ways of coping. You live in Hollywood. You deal with Hollywood. So you tell me, how should I have acted?" she says. "I was making light of the situation. You tell me what would have been better for me to deal with ... Should I have been crying? Should I have stayed at home? Should I have been drinking? Should I have used drugs? You tell me. What would have been better? I used the mask. I used the mask. I used the visor, as you call it, the welding mask."
On "Dr. Phil," which is scheduled to air at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, May 21, it "will be the first time Stiviano actually reveals answers to the questions the media is left with, as she takes off her visor to face Dr. Phil's tough questions." She is expected to describe in detail her relationship with Sterling, why she recorded their recent conversation, how the recording got leaked and why she shared it in the first place. Also, she will speak about her criminal history, her many aliases over the years and why she used them, as well as her specific job description and title.
Donald Sterling faces a lifetime suspension from the NBA and $2.5 million fine. The NBA launched formal proceedings against him on Monday, May 19, with a hearing and vote by league owners set for June 3. According to NBA commissioner Adam Silver's interpretation of the NBA constitution, if three-quarters of owners vote to boot Sterling, he would be forced to sell the Clippers.