NBC tells Donald Trump 'You're fired'
[Update 2:25 p.m.: NBC announced Monday afternoon that it would end its relationship with Donald Trump.]
A Change.org petition asking NBC to cancel Donald Trump’s programs had gathered more than 200,000 signatures as of Monday afternoon.
The petition criticized the network for failing to cut business ties with Mr. Trump and cancel "Miss USA," "Miss Universe," and "The Apprentice" in response to anti-Latino remarks Trump made in his speech announcing his presidential candidacy earlier this month.
In the speech, Trump accused Mexican immigrants of “bringing drugs, they’re bringing crime, they’re rapists, and some, I assume, are good people.” The comments angered the US Latino community and drew the attention of Mexico’s interior minister.
Univision, the American Spanish-language television network, announced it would not air the July 12 Miss USA pageant, which Trump co-owns with NBC. The petition writer Guillermo Castaneda Jr. praised Univision for deciding “to see principles as a priority instead of business.”
When ABC News asked Trump if he regretted his comments, he said he had not be referring specifically to Mexicans. "I love the Mexican people. I have great respect for Mexico," he added.
In contrast, NBC released a statement following Trump’s comments saying, “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.”
Castaneda identifies himself as an immigrant in the petition. “I am working for the community everyday as well as being an outstanding citizen,” he says. “I am not a rapist, I have never taken drugs, and the worst thing I have ever done is going fast on the freeway from time to time. I am not worth $4.1 billion, but my people spend way more than that on your advertisers. We have a voice and we decide the future of this country.”
“A large part of your audience is Hispanic and we watch NBC, NBC News, and Telemundo,” Castaneda adds. “How about looking out for us?”
This report includes material from the Associated Press.
