NBCUniversal Cuts Ties With Donald Trump Over ‘Derogatory’ Statements About Immigrants

NBCUniversal, under scrutiny by Hispanic groups, has cut its business ties with presidential candidate Donald Trump. The network’s decision to cut ties with Trump is in the wake of the comments he made during his presidential campaign announcement.

“When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best [sic]. They’re sending people who have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us,” Trump said during his campaign announcement. “They’re bringing drugs, they’re bringing crimes. They’re rapist.”

“Due to the recent derogatory statements by Donald Trump regarding immigrants, NBCUniversal is ending its business relationship with Mr. Trump,” NBC said in a press release. “At NBC, respect and dignity for all people are cornerstones of our values.”

NBC CUTS TIES WITH DONALD TRUMP

The Miss USA pageants, scheduled for July 12, will no longer be airing on NBC. The Miss Universe pageant, which was scheduled for next January won’t be aired on the network either. Both pageants were, until recently, part of a joint venture between NBC and Trump that dates back more than a decade. The real estate billionaire told CNN that he may sue NBC.

Another broadcaster of the pageants, Univision, the biggest Spanish-language network in the United States, has also announced that they won’t be airing the contest due to Trump’s involvement. “At Univision, we see first-hand the work ethic, love for family, strong religious values and the important role Mexican immigrants and Mexican-Americans have had and will continue to have in building the future of our country,” the company said in a statement. “We will not be airing the Miss USA pageant on July 12 or working on any other projects tied to the Trump Organization.”

Trump told Fox News last Thursday that he has plans to sue Univision for “hundreds of millions of dollars.” Univision signed a five-year $15 million contract in January with Trump to air the pageants. “I’m going to have to sue Univision now because I speak negatively about trade with Mexico,” he said. “Univision says you have to stop talking badly about Mexico… They have a signed contract.”

Trump took to Twitter to comment on Univison severing ties with him.

Some of the network’s biggest stars, Maria Elena Salinas and Jorge Ramos— both Mexican-American anchors Tweeted about Univision’s decision.