Corey Feldman reflects on controversial Barbara Walters interview

Former child star was shocked at journalist’s response to his claims about child abuse in Hollywood

Corey Feldman has reflected on his 2013 interaction with Barbara Walters, admitting that he’s still puzzled by her response to his story of abuse in Hollywood.

The actor, known best for his work in Eighties films such as Gremlins, The Goonies and Stand by Me, was interviewed by the late broadcast journalist on The View.

Feldman, 52, was on the programme to discuss his memoir, Coreyography, which details the sexual abuse he and his friend and fellow child star Corey Haim suffered at the hands of industry executives.

“I’m saying that there are people that were people that did this to both me and Corey, that are still working, they’re still out there, and they’re some of the richest, most powerful people in this business,” Feldman said during the talk show’s interview segment.

“And they do not want me saying what I’m saying right now.”

When Walters asked whether he was calling the people involved “paedophiles”, Feldman confirmed that he was, and stated that he was speaking out so that parents of child actors didn’t pursue Hollywood dreams “with naivete”.

However, Walters, who died aged 93 in 2022, responded by pointing out the potential harm his revelations had on the entertainment world. “You’re damaging an entire industry,” she replied.

Corey Feldman and Barbara Walters (Getty)

In a new interview with Entertainment Weekly, Feldman addressed Walters’ comments.

“It was like a knife in the heart,” the Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter star said.

“It was shocking to me that somebody who I admired so much and I looked up to so much could be so deaf and so just completely wrong and off base.”

Feldman added: “It very much gave everybody, I think, the feeling that she was either part of it or covering up for it, which is shocking and scary.”

The actor, who recently exited the US version of The Masked Singer, also noted Walters didn’t ever apologise for her remarks.

“I never got an apology,” Feldman stated. “The only apology I’ve ever gotten is from a few Twitter followers who’ve said, we all want to apologise on her behalf for the fact that she never acknowledged you or apologised.”

To bring further attention to the prevalence of child abuse in the entertainment industry, Feldman made a documentary called Hollywood, (My) Truth: The Rape of Two Coreys, sharing more about his experience, as well as that of Haim, who died of pneumonia in 2010.

Speaking about the film, which did not get the wide release he had hoped for upon its March 2020 debut, Feldman said: “I still am praying that one day my voice, Corey’s voice, all the voices of all the victims that I experienced and saw in my time as a child get their voices heard and get a chance to come forward and have a chance of justice.”

If you are a child and you need help because something has happened to you, you can call the NSPCC free of charge on 0800 1111. You can also call the NSPCC if you are an adult and you are worried about a child, on 0808 800 5000. The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (Napac) offers support for adults on 0808 801 0331.