Univision took swift action and fired fashion commentator and TV host Rodner Figueroa after he made racist comments about first lady Michelle Obama during the network’s live afternoon entertainment and gossip show.
During yesterday’s “El Gordo y La Flaca,” Rodner said Michelle Obama looked like the cast from the movie “Planet of the Apes,” while an image of the First Lady showed on screen.
He made the racist remark during his live segment, in which he talked about makeup transformations by makeup artist Paolo Ballesteros, who makes himself look like famous women celebrities.
Shortly after his comment, the camera showed him with the show’s hosts – Lily Estefan and Raúl de Molina, both visibly uncomfortable.
Raúl immediately stated he thought the First Lady was attractive, but Rodner pressed on, saying “Raúl, don’t you remember the movie?” and stated “what’s the problem?” when the host insisted on Mrs. Obama’s attractiveness.
Today, Univision issued this statement on the incident:
“Yesterday during our entertainment program “El Gordo y La Flaca” Rodner Figueroa made comments regarding First Lady Michelle Obama that were completely reprehensible and in no way reflect Univision’s values or views. As a result, Mr. Figueroa was immediately terminated.”
Univision also wiped out all photos of the 42 year-old Venezuelan host from their web pages.
Rodner also co-hosted “Sal Y Pimienta,” a Sunday night gossip show. No word yet on his replacement.
Reaction was immediate on social media, criticizing and chastising the host for his racist comments, with an overwhelming majority approving Univision firing him. Many of them can’t be shared, due to expletives, but here’s a sample:
Wow! It’s about time #rodnerfigueroa got fired. @Univision should’ve done that a long time ago! He’s so rude!
— Team AnAngel MCET (@PinkCakeMaster) March 12, 2015
I think the #RodnerFigueroa situation high lights the very real casual racism that lives within the latin american community. — TracyDangerFigueroa (@tuhracy626) March 12, 2015
Bye #rodnerfigueroa . There goes your television career. If I was your producer, I’d fire you twice !
— Gil Rodriguez (@MiamiPR) March 12, 2015
Karma is a b**** baby. It was your time, long overdue.
Now, an arrogant dude, outing another arrogant guy?
Would be this the beginning of an open Ceriani-Rodner boxing match ?
Will Telemundo Network, Romay 41 or Alarcon 22, be picking Rodner’s mediocre bones ?
He is bad omen, they know it already. His fame is well gained. A bad one.
Now, this was partly unfair.
Why ? ‘coz Univision has been elaborating a racist broth for a very long time, is part of that company’s DNA.
Ugly programming for the latino masses, harvesting and profiting from the worse of our countries, as an everyday mandatory cheap meal.
Nationalities vs nationalities, cultures vs cultures, old debts vs new riches.
Men vs women…Gay Power vs The Rest.
Veteran professionals vs Criminal newcomers: this is our TV Latino world out of Doral, a cruel reality.
If we had been taken seriously before, the Feds would have opened a deep investigation long time ago, about so many wrongdoings inside…but who cares about Bananas’ interests, ain’t ?
Univision is now a bad caricature of what it pretended to be, a shameful company of inflated egos and everyday betrayals.
Too bad for so many good people inside, surely heading down the drain.
Gracias, Azcarraguito Mezclilla.
I agree with “NewsportSurvivors” 100 percent. Our “hispanic” networks, who claim to represent us keep spewing nothing but disgusting forms of “entertainment” – narconovelas, celebrity gossip, obscene “comics”, sex-charged “news programs” – sadly, they do it because that’s what a huge chunk or our community crave. Chalk this up to the lack of education in our community.
At least this was not racist but half the fault is Univision for firing and leaking the information Social media
Hey Gavin…This was not racist? Are you kidding me?
And get your sources straight. Univision did not “leak” the information…Figueroa made those comments on LIVE television.
Todo el mundo comete errors. Dios dijo el que esta libre de pecado que tire la primera piedra. Rodner soy negra a como decimos en Panama, Morena. Elshow de ustedes es de muchas bromas cuantas personas han bromeado con cosas o personas que han sido peores. Univision solo quiere ganar puntos con la Casa Blanca. devieron sancionarlo no ridiculisarlo ante todo el mundo. lo an tratado como a uno de los contrabamdistas mas buscados. y a los que se decian sus amigos ahora le dan la espalda que porqueria de personas son ustedes. Rodner al final del camino siempre hay una luz…. La PANAMENA.
Rodner, did less than the journalist and reporter Williams, and they suspended him, not fired him, this people wants to destroy him, they are horrible, not good in news just repeating same news over and over….