NEW YORK, March 12 (UPI) — The most-watched Spanish language broadcaster in the world on Thursday fired one of its Emmy award-winning talk show hosts for a remark he made toward first lady Michelle Obama.
Rodner Figueroa, a fashion and entertainment commentator for the network, made the remark Wednesday during a live broadcast of El Gordo y La Flaca during a segment in which they were discussing a web video that featured a makeup artist who made himself to look like Obama and other celebrities.
“You know that Michelle Obama looks like she’s from the cast of Planet of the Apes,” he said.
Two other hosts involved in the discussion, who immediately recognized the inflammatory nature of the remark, sought clarification. One of them noted that he believed Michelle Obama is an attractive woman.
“But it’s true,” Figueroa, a TV personality well known for issuing scathing fashion and red carpet commentary, insisted.
Univision said Thursday that {link:Figueroa was fired immediately upon the network’s hearing the remarks.
“Rodner Figueroa made comments regarding First Lady Michelle Obama that were completely reprehensible and in no way reflect Univision’s values or views,” Univision said in a statement Thursday.
Univision also contacted the White House to inform officials of what happened, the New York Times reported.
Figueroa, who had been employed by Univision for 17 years, wrote an apology in an open letter to the first lady on Thursday, which was posted by the Huffington Post. In it, he claims his remarks were taken out of context.
“I feel embarrassed, I ask for forgiveness, because there is no excuse for a professional like me to make those types of comments that can be interpreted as offensive and racist,” the letter, detailed by Latin Times, said.
Figueroa took responsibility for his remarks, but also criticized his former employer in the letter.
“I take full responsibility for the lack of judgement in my part, but I can’t accept that I am being called a racist, being fired for that reason and being humiliated by Univision after working there for 17 years.”
Figueroa took exception to being accused of racism multiple times in the letter.
“I am a decent person, but I’m a human that makes mistakes like this one. Although the comment was unpleasant and out of line, I do not deserved being called a racist.”
The former talk show host also said in the letter that he believes his firing was the result of a complaint received from the White House itself.
“I was notified verbally that due to a complaint from your office I was fired. And thanks to an information leak from Univision executives, I was condemned on social media, destroying my career in an unfair manner, without letting me know personally and without an investigation that would allow to clear up the situation.”
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