It looks like NBC will follow Univision’s lead regarding Donald Trump, who recently burned bridges at both networks due to derogatory remarks about Mexican immigrants.
Univision cut ties with the mogul last week, and now NBC has also severed its partnership, pulling both Miss USA and Miss Universe from its schedule.
The Miss USA pageant, which has been on NBC for more than 10 years, was supposed to air July 12 from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Miss USA and Miss Universe were both part of a $13.5 million contract between NBCU and Trump.
NBC announced the partnership would end on Monday, with a statement directly pointing to his remarks as the reason for the split:
“Due to the recent derogatory statements by Donald Trump regarding immigrants, NBCUniversal is ending its business relationship with Mr. Trump. At NBC, respect and dignity for all people are cornerstones of our values.”
NBC added that Trump will not appear in Celebrity Apprentice but that show would continue. Celebrity Apprentice is on NBC through a deal with Mark Burnett’s United Artists Media Group, so the series is not included in its deal with Trump and will remain on the network.
The controversy began in mid-June, when Trump was announcing his bid for president, making several insensitive remarks about immigrants in a speech that included the statements below:
“When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.”
Trump stands by his claim, however, that this was his idea, as NBC did not like his presidential bid.
“They did not want me to run,” he said in a statement. “They wanted me to do The Apprentice. And now with my statements on immigration, which happen to be correct, they are going to take a different stance and that’s OK. Whatever they want to do is OK with me. As far as ending the relationship, I have to do that because my view on immigration is much different than the people at NBC.”
Trump came back at NBC on Monday also threatening to sue the network:
“Their contract violating closure of Miss Universe/Miss USA will be determined in court,” he said in a statement Monday afternoon. “Furthermore, they will stand behind lying Brian Williams, but won’t stand behind people that tell it like it is, as unpleasant as that may be.”
So far, both Univision and NBC have seen backlash from his camp, which includes Trump’s publishing a Univision reporter’s phone number and calling for the resignation of Univision President Alberto Ciurana.
Read more at The Hollywood Reporter.
Brief Take: As Trump continues to burn bridges, TV brands are severing ties left and right. Fox News cut his segments after he announced his presidential bid, but now broadcast networks NBC and Univision are adding to his problems, with no likely TV partner for his upcoming pageants.
Image courtesy of Miss USA
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