Arianna Huffington Talks 'Sugar Babies' On 'Today' Show (Video)

This morning on the "Today" show, Arianna Huffington talked to anchor Ann Curry and psychiatrist Gail Saltz about the phenomenon of young women strapped with student loan debt seeking "sugar daddies" online to help pay their student loan debt.

Referring to HuffPost education reporter Amanda Fairbanks' story on the issue, which ran on HuffPost Women Monday, Arianna suggested that these so-called "sugar babies" are selling themselves to cope with the failure of the American Dream. "You play by the rules, you work hard, you graduate from college. But we have an economy which does not make it possible for them to get a good job and pay their debts."

For young, educated, unemployed women mired in student loan debt, "This is really an act of desperation," said Arianna. One, she added, that "ultimately is going to influence their whole life."

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Comments

[Jesse King]

01:06 AM on 08/20/2011

Would you really think less of a man that paid for sex? And would it matter if it was a hooker or a sugar baby?

Please let me know your thoughts
http://sugarbabesorhookers.tumblr.com/

[pam45]

03:25 PM on 08/06/2011

This topic of women using their beauty and sex is something that people have always dealt with in our society and in other countries. It's how many people who want to become American citizens do it. They meet and seduce wealthy partners and become companions, all expenses paid, and sometimes a wife for a while. It's been freshened up with a focus now on college students using their beauty and sex also for personal gain. The gain is now in dollars to help pay off student loans but with no personal attachment. A few years ago the focus was on women who sought older wealthy men for financial security and living expenses. A period before that it was women who worked in topless clubs for extra income to pay for college. Call it what it is because we know what it is. There lies the problem that as you say women will feel guilty and have regrets later in life. They know what they become when they take the plunge for money and it's not called a sugar baby! There have always been men who have taken care of women for whatever reason and young beautiful women have always been available as "arm candy." I'm not sure why there is suddenly an interest in this topic newly named sugar babies. These so called sugar babies can take care of their debts like everyone else without doing what they have CHOSEN to do.

[Deborah Beck]

10:56 AM on 08/06/2011

Unfortunately, given the current economy, these degrees could very well be meaningless. By the time the economy picks up employers are going to go after current grads. This generation could very well be the forgotten ones. I think some of these students may wind up in the sex trade.

[KJLSanDiego]

01:23 AM on 08/05/2011

I'm not surprised how many people are still so puritanical about sex issues, but it is still lame to me.
There were women trading "love" for money and goods over two thousand years ago.
Why all the shock?
At least they chose this way of making a living.
Save the shock and moral outrage for r@pe victims, sex slaves, and indentured servants, like child laborers in the third world.
And, honestly, I think they will get over it.

[Mithrall]

09:57 AM on 08/04/2011

College costs basically the same for men as it does women right? Why does the story seem to just be about how tragic it is for these women? It seems to me, they have an option most men don't have.

[KJLSanDiego]

01:24 AM on 08/05/2011

There is an expression about this that I can't say here.
But, basically, females hold all the cards and the monetary value, and what men have is not going to be traded for much, if traded at all.

[pam45]

03:33 PM on 08/06/2011

Point well taken but I bet there are guys who are in the escort service for whatever reason too. Many are probably grads from celebrated colleges who are attractive cougar toys. This was not a well researched and developed topic and is some of that meaningless interviewing that seems to be done often on television.

[Algernon Hawthorne]

08:34 PM on 08/03/2011

I think they enjoy sex just as much as guys and they get paid...it's a win win for them!

[charperz]

08:25 PM on 08/03/2011

Aristotle Onassis say one time well you the rest of the story

[bobbyperu]

08:21 PM on 08/03/2011

Civilized countries provide free education to it's people.

[KJLSanDiego]

12:58 AM on 08/05/2011

Some countries, before the recession, even paid for certain degrees, like medical sciences and engineering sciences.

[pam45]

03:35 PM on 08/06/2011

You are right and of course that would have been a better topic to cover from a perspective of doing the right thing for citizens and ensuring a healther and secure society!

[mangoaddict]

08:17 PM on 08/03/2011

What an indictment on this country! College is a business make no mistake and tuition is through the roof.

[TheLibraryOfCodex]

08:12 PM on 08/03/2011

It's worth considering what you actually want to study at uni.

I don't think selling your body is worth a degree in David Beckham Studies.

[lightist]

08:06 PM on 08/03/2011

Yeah, right, sure you can sit there pontificating moral compasses and how these women are risking their future, but all you succeed in doing is making matters worse. How do you propose they get money when there is, and you know this is true, almost no jobs to be had that can come anywhere close to paying for college.

I don't think it's right to address the girls so heavily when the big criminals that brought down America continue to screw whoever they want.

[Chamique Parker]

08:02 PM on 08/03/2011

Breitbart appreciates her apology.

[RepChicksDoRock1]

07:25 PM on 08/03/2011

This is just straight bullsh1t. Women have been doing this for centuries...it's called prostitution. There are also the gold diggers who go after men with money.

I chose to pay off my college loans and even my children's college loans by working more than one job. I made my choice and they made theirs. Don't blame the friggin economy.

[YakittyGirl]

04:30 PM on 08/04/2011

I agree with your comment. Nice going on your education and that of your children.

[pam45]

03:37 PM on 08/06/2011

Agreed!

[outloud]

07:08 PM on 08/03/2011

There is only one popular word for folks who get paid to have sex. There is no excuse worthy to change the name of what it is. If that's your choice, then my only advice is be very, very safe and careful.

This current activity seems to be sexist as well. Where are the men? I doubt sugar momma's are the main buyers. Are these male students prepared to have sex with another male for tuition money?

[mose joseph workman]

06:20 PM on 08/03/2011

let me put it to ya this way: consider prostitution as the screwin' you get for the screwin' you got by spending tens of thousands of dollars on a worthless degree...