Barbara Walters ‘Secretly Resented’ Diane Sawyer, Colleague Says She Tried to Sabotage Katharine Hepburn Interview

The long-awaited Tell Me Everything documentary about Barbara Walters has revealed shocking details about the behind-the-scenes dynamics of the legendary TV host’s career. Among the most explosive revelations is the alleged tension between Walters and fellow journalist Diane Sawyer, a rivalry that took a toll on both women’s professional relationships. In the film, former colleagues and friends of Walters share their insights, detailing the power struggle that transpired when Sawyer joined ABC News in 1989.

According to Cynthia McFadden, a longtime friend of Walters and a fellow journalist, Walters harbored deep resentment toward Sawyer, whom she viewed as a direct challenge to her dominance in the network. The tensions between the two women were fueled by professional competition and personal insecurities, leaving a lasting impact on their relationship.

Walters’ Alleged Plot to Sabotage Diane Sawyer’s Interview with Katharine Hepburn

One of the most shocking claims made in the documentary comes from McFadden, who recalls a specific incident where Walters allegedly tried to sabotage one of Sawyer’s most high-profile interviews. Sawyer, at the height of her career, had successfully booked a coveted sit-down with the iconic Hollywood legend Katharine Hepburn. However, according to McFadden, Walters, who knew Hepburn personally, tried to interfere with the interview by pressuring the actress to cancel with Sawyer and instead choose Walters as her interviewer.

“Diane had booked, fair and square, Katharine Hepburn, and Barbara, who knew Katharine Hepburn, put a lot of pressure on Kate to unbook and go with her,” McFadden shared in the documentary. “You know, Kate said, ‘No, no. I promised Diane, and I will do it with her.’ And she did.”

The suggestion that Walters might have attempted to undermine Sawyer in this way paints a picture of a highly competitive environment at ABC News in the late ’80s and early ’90s, one where even the most accomplished broadcasters were not immune to insecurity and jealousy.

A Behind-the-Scenes Rivalry

The feud between Walters and Sawyer, according to McFadden, wasn’t just about competition for interviews or ratings—it was deeply personal. Walters allegedly viewed Sawyer’s rise at ABC News as a direct threat to her own place in the network’s hierarchy. Sawyer, who had left CBS’s 60 Minutes to join ABC, was tasked with starting a new newsmagazine, which some at ABC considered a competitor to Walters’ 20/20. This new addition to the network was seen as a potential challenge to Walters’ leadership, and the arrival of a younger, more glamorous journalist only heightened Walters’ sense of insecurity.

“Barbara did not know why Diane was hired to start a new newsmagazine within our home of ABC to compete with 20/20,” said Victor Neufeld, a former executive producer at ABC News. “There was talk about that being a different 20/20, a better 20/20, a more lively 20/20, a more energetic 20/20. Barbara was unhappy.”

Martin Clancy, another former ABC News producer, added, “Barbara saw herself as someone who’d helped elevate ABC News to a pinnacle, that had her feelings betrayed by Diane’s arrival.”

The documentary reveals that the professional friction between the two women was exacerbated by their similar roles at the network, with the two journalists positioned in such a way that their success or failure was directly tied to each other. According to Clancy, Walters grew increasingly wary of Sawyer, and while many at ABC News tried to keep the two separate, it was clear that the competition between them was undeniable.

The Insecurity That Fueled the Tension

McFadden’s insights into Walters’ feelings toward Sawyer point to deep-seated insecurities that may have been rooted in Walters’ own childhood. McFadden recalled Walters often describing Sawyer as the “perfect woman,” referring to her as a “blonde goddess.” McFadden speculated that Walters saw Sawyer as the idealized version of beauty and femininity, someone Walters couldn’t compete with, no matter how hard she worked or how many people she knew.

“Barbara often said Diane was the perfect woman. She used the words, ‘a blonde goddess,’ this ideal woman, and that she, Barbara, couldn’t compete with that,” McFadden said. “She could work harder, she could know more people, but she couldn’t compete with that, the blonde goddess.”

McFadden believes that these feelings of inadequacy were deeply rooted in Walters’ past, where she struggled with a sense of being an outsider. According to McFadden, the arrival of Sawyer, who embodied everything Walters feared she could never be, resurfaced these childhood insecurities. “She couldn’t tolerate having Diane Sawyer rise in what she saw as a direct challenge to what she had accomplished. What a sadness. Talk about the death of joy.”

Walters and Sawyer: The Aftermath

Despite the tension between them, Walters has publicly stated that she didn’t have a feud with Sawyer, describing their rivalry as a natural byproduct of their shared career ambitions. In an interview included in the documentary, Walters admitted, “I don’t think Diane Sawyer and I had a feud; I think people know that we were after the same gets.” However, it’s clear from the accounts in the documentary that the relationship was far more complicated than Walters let on, and McFadden’s recollections paint a picture of a woman struggling to reconcile her personal insecurities with her professional success.

The documentary also includes testimony from trailblazing news anchor Connie Chung, who described the intense competition for stories between Walters and Sawyer. Chung admitted she was often caught in the middle of the rivalry, noting how the pressure to “win” stories created a toxic environment.

“Diane had her own way of working, and Barbara had her way of working, but they were constantly trying to outdo each other,” Chung said. “It was a monstrous battle to win stories. I felt like I was in the middle of it all, and I didn’t want to be.”

Legacy and Reflection

In the years since, both Walters and Sawyer have become icons in the field of broadcast journalism, each with their own legacy of groundbreaking interviews and accomplishments. Walters, who retired in 2014, left behind a career marked by historic interviews with world leaders, celebrities, and political figures. Sawyer, who succeeded Walters in several high-profile roles, continues to be a respected journalist in her own right.

However, the Tell Me Everything documentary sheds light on the personal struggles that shaped their careers, including the difficult and sometimes divisive competition between these two powerhouse women. It highlights that while the professional rivalry may have been buried in public, the behind-the-scenes tension had real emotional consequences, particularly for Walters.

The documentary’s revelations also add another layer to the legacy of Walters, reminding viewers that even the most successful public figures struggle with insecurities and personal demons. For Walters, her feelings toward Sawyer were not just a rivalry—they were a reflection of a deeper, more complex battle with her own self-image.

Conclusion: A Story of Competition, Insecurity, and Legacy

The Tell Me Everything documentary offers an intimate look into the life of Barbara Walters, revealing the personal conflicts and professional challenges that shaped her as a journalist and as a woman. The rivalry with Diane Sawyer, while certainly not the defining aspect of Walters’ career, adds a layer of complexity to the legacy of one of TV’s most iconic figures.

As the documentary explores the dynamics between Walters and Sawyer, it becomes clear that the story is not just about professional competition but also about the insecurities, emotions, and pressures that come with being a woman in a male-dominated field. Despite the rivalry, both Walters and Sawyer have left lasting impressions on the world of journalism, each carving out their own space in history.

Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything is now streaming on Disney+ and Hulu, giving viewers the chance to explore the life and legacy of a true television trailblazer.