Donald Trump spokesman Michael Cohen confirmed the Republican presidential hopeful has purchased NBC's half of the Miss Universe Organization and settled all lawsuits against the media company.
The move, which Trump announced on Twitter, gives him full ownership of the Miss Universe and Miss USA pageants and completes a divorce begun in June when NBC announced it was ending its business relationship with Trump, who had starred on the network as host of "The Celebrity Apprentice."
Just purchased NBC’s half of The Miss Universe Organization and settled all lawsuits against them. Now own 100% -- stay tuned!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 11, 2015
The network had said it was severing ties with Trump because of comments he made about Mexican immigrants during the announcement of his presidential campaign.
At the time, NBC said it would no longer air the annual Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants, and Trump sued.
"It was hard to hear," Natasha Martinez, whose mother emigrated to the United States as a young girl from Nicaragua, told the AP in July.
"I think it's important to understand that immigrants come here looking for a better life, and they do make these hard sacrifices like leaving their kids and their countries for long periods of time in hopes that they will be reunited and that they will be able to have a better life here in America," said Martinez, who represents California.
Trump slammed Mexican immigrants while announcing his presidential candidacy in June, blaming them for bringing drugs and crime to the U.S. and saying some are rapists.
The fallout was extensive.
Macy's dropped his line of business suits. The Spanish-language broadcaster Univision cut ties with Trump. NBC dropped its pageant telecast. Trump has also been a fixture on NBC as host of "The Apprentice" and its celebrity offshoot, but an agreement that he would no longer be on the show predated the current controversy.