According to Figueroa’s representatives, no one from the network complained when on Wednesday he compared a makeup artist who transformed himself into Michelle Obama to a cast member of The Planet of the Apes franchise……continue to see the makeup artist’s remake of Michelle Obama.
But later that night, hours after Figueroa’s entertainment news show El Gordo Y La Flacaa aired, a Univision executive reportedly contacted the TV presenter and informed him that the first lady’s office had made a complaint about the remark.
Later Figueroa co-hosted the evening gossip show Sal Y Pimienta, but by Wednesday night his photo had already been removed from the network’s website.
In a statement on Thursday, Univision called Figueroa’s comments ‘completely reprehensible’ and said they ‘in no way reflect the values or opinions of Univision.’
‘Yesterday during the entertainment show El Gordo y La Flaca, Rodner Figueroa made comments about First Lady Michelle Obama that were completely reprehensible and in no way reflect the values or opinions of Univision.
‘As a result, Mr. Figueroa was fired immediately,’ read the statement.
Univision is the largest Spanish-language network in the United States, reaching an estimated 94 million U.S. homes. It ranks fifth among all television networks in the U.S.
On Thursday Rodner issued an open letter apology to Michelle Obama. In it he claimed his comments were taken out of context and that as a member of a ‘bi-racial Latin family’ he isn’t a racist.
Click on the link below to read his apology letter.
