Latina and Latino celebrities aren't taking Donald Trump's incendiary remarks about immigration sitting down.
Chilean actor Cristian de la Fuente and Puerto Rican actress Roselyn Sanchez, both stars of Lifetime's Devious Maids, have announced that they will no longer host the Spanish-language simulcast of the Miss USA pageant.
Spanish-language broadcaster Univision announced Thursday that it was ending its partnership with the Miss Universe Organization, which Trump partially owns, as a result of the businessman's incendiary statements about immigration. Now, de la Fuente and Sanchez have followed suit.
During his presidential campaign announcement earlier this month, Trump called Mexican immigrants "rapists" who are "bringing drugs" and "bringing crime" to the United States.
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Mr. Trump, As a #Latino I cannot work in an event associated with your name. The statements you made against Mexicans and immigrants show that you are ignorant. It is unacceptable to launch your presidential candidacy creating rhetoric of hatred and discrimination in calling Mexicans drug traffickers and rapists. It's a shame that such an important institution as #MISSUSA is now in the hands of a clown " See more at http://goo.gl/hdj3cVDonald J. Trump Como latino no puedo trabajar en un evento asociado a su nombre... las declaraciones que hizo contra los mexicanos, contra los inmigrantes, demuestran que es un ignorante. Es inaceptable que se lance a la presidencia creando una retórica de odio y discriminacion al tildar a los mexicanos de narcotraficantes y violadores... Es una pena que una institucion tan importante como MISS USA este hoy en manos de un payaso
Posted by Cristian de la Fuente on Thursday, June 25, 2015
“Mr. Trump, as a Latino, I cannot work in an event associated with your name. The statements you made against Mexicans and immigrants show that you are ignorant,” de la Fuente said in a Facebook video posted Thursday (above).
“It is unacceptable to launch your presidential candidacy creating rhetoric of hatred and discrimination in calling Mexicans drug dealers and rapists," he continued. "It’s a shame that such an important institution as Miss USA is now in the hands of a clown.”
Meanwhile, Sanchez revealed her own resignation in a post on Instagram. "As a Latina and proud of my roots, culture and everything we have contributed to this nation, I have decided to cancel my participation as co-host of Miss USA," she wrote (translated), adding that she wouldn't tolerate Trump's "disrespectful and hurtful words" and praising Mexican immigrants.
[seealso URL="www.mashable.com/2015/06/16/donald-trumps-2016-campaign-announcement-was-the-opposite-of-politically-correct/"]
"Mexicans, like all our Latino brothers have contributed positively to this great nation," Sanchez wrote. "We are the force that keeps this country afloat. I was very excited and grateful with the opportunity to serve as a co-host of this great event in which many Latinas have shined, but I am more excited for the loyalty to my people. Enough with racism and 'influential' people that belittle."
A photo posted by roselyn sanchez (@roselyn_sanchez) on Jun 25, 2015 at 8:04am PDT
Trump plans to sue Univision for breach of contract and defamation, though he seems generally unruffled by the fallout from his remarks. As he told the New York Post Thursday, "Running for president is far more important to me, frankly, than running the Miss Universe pageant."
Miss USA is still scheduled to air July 12 on NBC, though the network was careful to distance itself from Trump. "Donald Trump's opinions do not represent those of NBC, and we do not agree with his positions on a number of issues, including his recent comments on immigration," the network said in a statement released Thursday.