Univision Fires Host For Racist Remark About Michelle Obama
Even in jest, this crossed a line.
Rodner Figueroa has written a letter of apology to First Lady Michelle Obama, but that doesn't mean he's any less fired.
Transcript via Media Matters:
FIGUEROA: We're going to talk about Paolo Ballesteros, an actor and host of a Philippine talent show. He's a beautiful makeup artist who has become a phenomenon in social media. Through makeup, he's able to transform his face and look like the biggest celebrities of our time. I mean, I wondered how with his face he could end up looking like, I don't know, Kim Kardashian? But through makeup, he's able to go through this incredible transformation and look: he becomes Kim Kardashian. He's in the smaller pictures.
De MOLINA: We should be careful, anyone seeing him would be confused.
FIGUEROA: I'm telling you, you see this guy sitting next to you at a bar looking like that, and you take him home.
De MOLINA: I now know what happened.
FIGUEROA: They say he applies makeup everywhere. Now, look at the transformation into Michelle Obama. This is truly impressive. Look at this: You know that Michelle Obama looks like she's part of the cast of the movie Planet of the Apes. This is a difficult transformation. It's true.
De MOLINA: What do you think you're saying? I think she's a very attractive woman.
FIGUEROA: Raul, this is not about being attractive, do you remember the movie --
De MOLINA: -- stop there now. I think she's a very attractive woman.
I'm not sure how anyone can take that remark as anything but racist. I'm sure he didn't mean it (eyeroll) and was just dishing some snark, but even snark can be done without such a nasty roll to it.
Good call, Univision.