Donald Trump's comments about Mexican immigrants has cost the Miss Universe Organization its partnership with Univision.
Donald Trump's comments about Mexican immigrants has cost the Miss Universe Organization its partnership with Univision.
"When Mexico sends its people, they're not sending their best," Trump said while announcing his presidential run on June 16. "They're sending people that have lots of problems. They're bringing drugs. They're bringing crime. They're rapists."
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As Trump is a part owner of the Miss Universe Organization, Univision has cut ties with the company, which means they will not be airing the Miss USA pageant set for July 12 on NBC.
On Thursday, Univision released the following statement:
"Today, the entertainment division of Univision Communications Inc. announced that it is ending the Company's business relationship with the Miss Universe Organization, which is part-owned by Donald J. Trump, based on his recent, insulting remarks about Mexican immigrants. At Univision, we see first-hand the work ethic, love for family, strong religious values and the important role Mexican immigrants and Mexican-Americans have had and will continue to have in building the future of our country. We will not be airing the Miss USA pageant on July 12 or working on any other projects tied to the Trump Organization."
Despite his bad standing with Univision, Trump's face will still occasionally pop up on the channel, at least for as long as his presidential bid continues.
"Univision News and the local news division will continue to provide comprehensive coverage of all candidates, including Mr. Trump, to ensure our audience continues to have access to all points of view," Univision noted in its statement.
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Later, Trump's office responded with a statement, claiming that the controversial remarks were made in reference to trade agreements.
"The Mexican government and others are putting tremendous pressure on Univision to break their signed and fully effective contract with the Miss Universe Organization because Mr. Trump has been exposing to the public, and the world, the significant damage that is being done at the southern border, and the terrible and costly trade deals that the United States is incompetently making with Mexico (these deals are great for Mexico and horrible for the United States)," the statement reads. "This has been sharply and openly brought out during Mr. Trump's run for President of the United States. 'Mexican leadership has been doing serious damage to the United States by out-negotiating our representatives and political leaders. They are taking our jobs, taking our money and at the same time hurting us at the border with illegals from all over the world freely flowing into our country.' Mr. Trump cannot be silenced on this very important problem for the United States. I have great respect for Mexico and love the Mexican people, but my loyalty is to the United States and making our country great again!"
Univision isn't the only one distancing itself from Trump. Latin performer J Balvin canceled his scheduled performance at the Miss USA pageant in protest of Trump's comments.
"It was going to be my first performance on national [mainstream] television," Balvin told Billboard on Wednesday. "We're talking about our roots, our culture, our values. This isn't about being punitive, but about showing leadership through social responsibility. His comments weren't just about Mexicans, but about all Latins in general."
