Actress and Fox News contributor Stacey Dash isn’t backing down following controversial comments she made about the gender pay gap that made for a testy exchange on Wednesday’s episode of “The Meredith Viera Show.”

“It’s the same thing with race. It’s an excuse,” Ms. Dash said. “Stop making excuses. If there are opportunities, seize them and be prepared for them and be the best if that’s what it takes. If you have to be extraordinary then be extraordinary.”

“I feel like we’re fighting an uphill battle,” Ms. Viera countered, citing a statistic that women make 78 cents on the dollar that a man makes.

“No, I know the numbers are true,” Ms. Dash said, “but I feel like your daughter will be able to make as much money as she wants in her life just like you are. I mean look at you. The success you have.”

“I am successful, but it took me a long time,” the host responded. “It takes a lot of people a long time. For many years, I was not getting paid the same as the guys.”

“And you think it’s because you’re a woman?” Ms. Dash asked.

“I think that had a lot to do with it,” Ms. Viera responded. “If you look at the numbers, there’s a reason why women get 78 cents and why men get a buck.”

Ms. Dash added: “See, I guess I won’t put my fate into anything other than my own action and taking my destiny in my hands. I will not be a victim.”

“I’m not saying I’m a victim,” the host retorted. “I’m pissed off. I don’t want to be a victim.”

“And that’s the thing,” Ms. Dash continued. “If you want to be pissed off about it, then be pissed off about it and work harder for it. But I don’t think us complaining about it — because there is a law passed that we get equal pay.”

“Except we don’t,” Ms. Viera said. “We don’t. We don’t. We don’t. We don’t.”

After receiving a wave of backlash for her comments, Ms. Dash continued to explain her stance online.

“I am not ANTI-WOMAN! I just don’t believe that my gender needs a bunch of men in Congress to ‘save us’ from the big bad world,” she tweeted to her 485,000 followers Thursday morning.

“The 77 cents vs a dollar is based on B.S. statistics. STOP USING IT. CELEBRATE that EDUCATED women in their 20’s now make more than men!” Ms. Dash continued. “I DON’T CARE IF I AM THE LONE VOICE IN THE WOODS, I WILL NOT LET THE GOVERNMENT MAKE WOMEN AN ENTITLEMENT CLASS. #HOLDINGTHELINE.”

As far as the interview with Ms. Vieira, Ms. Dash said, “[She] is my friend. I LOVE having discussions w/ her on @MeredithShow. When we disagree it does not mean we are tense #GrownUps.”

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