The Spanish-language broadcaster Univision announced on Thursday that it would be severing all ties with real-estate mogul and presidential candidate Donald Trump, including the upcoming Miss USA pageant, after his remarks calling Mexican immigrants rapists and drug addicts.
“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,” the company said in a press release.
Trump had branded Mexican immigrants as drug-peddlers, criminals and “rapists” when he announced his 2016 presidential run last week.
“They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists and some I assume are good people,” Trump said. “But I speak to border guards and they tell us what we’re getting. It only makes common sense. They’re sending us not the right people.”
The broadcaster said on Thursday that this did not square with its view on 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,” the statement added.
Univision said it will not air the Trump-owned Miss USA pageant on July 12, nor will it associate with any other projects tied to the Trump Organization.
It added that it would continue to cover Trump’s presidential run, “to ensure our audience continues to have access to all points of view.”
Trump, of course, responded, saying the breakup had to do with his stance on trade with Mexico. He hit back first on Twitter and then in an interview with Politico’s Dylan Byers:
Trump said any “normal politician” would have “immediately folded and said, ‘Oh, gee, we’re sorry’ and apologized and let this rip-off continue,” and singled out Jeb Bush: “Anyone else would be subservient to that. Bush would say, I’m sorry, keep ripping us off.”
Trump’s tweets are below:
Univision wants to back out of signed @MissUniverse contract because I exposed the terrible trade deals that the U.S. makes with Mexico.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 25, 2015
Mexican gov doesn’t want me talking about terrible border situation & horrible trade deals. Forcing Univision to get me to stop- no way!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 25, 2015
Free speech do have its consequences, eh?
Hahahahaaaaaaa…
Good thing Twitter was developed by an American otherwise Badger-on-Head would have to rely on a FOREIGNER to get the word out…
Uh…it was, right?
UM NO, Donald, Univision just hates your guts and stupid useless mind.
This is turning out to be a better than average week (Palin, Obamacare, Trump…)
I didn’t think I would live long enough for “the crazy” to come home to roost but the scales might be tipping. On the other hand, I thought the SCOTUS would go the other way on the ACA and we might see the results in a Dem landslide in both houses in 2016.
Still could happen I guess. Keep the cameras rolling as the GOP blasts that decision – it will make for some good campaign commercial material.