Univision Fires Host Rodner Figueroa for Comparing Michelle Obama to Planet of the Apes

A racist comment on a talk show broadcasted from Miami has gotten one of Univision's most popular hosts canned. Rodner Figueroa, best known for hosting the entertainment and gossip show Sal y Pimienta, was guesting on another show, El Gordo y la Flaca, yesterday when he compared First Lady Michelle's...

By Kyle Munzenrieder

March 12, 2015

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A racist comment on a talk show broadcasted from Miami has gotten one of Univision's most popular hosts canned.

Rodner Figueroa, best known for hosting the entertainment and gossip show Sal y Pimienta, was guesting on another show, El Gordo y la Flaca, yesterday when he compared First Lady Michelle's appearance to that of the cast of Planet of the Apes.

"Yesterday during our entertainment program 'El Gordo y La Flaca' Rodner Figueroa made comments regarding First Lady Michelle Obama that were completely reprehensible and in no way reflect Univision's values or views," reads the official Univsion statement. "As a result, Mr. Figueroa was immediately terminated."

During a discussion of a male makeup artist who had gone viral online for painting his face to resemble female celebrities, a picture of Michelle Obama was shown onscreen.

The Venezuelan-born host criticized Obama's body and commented that "she looks like she was from the Planet of the Apes."

The clip went viral, and popular Miami Spanish-language radio and TV host Javier Ceriani posted a clip on his Instagram page tagging the post with #racismo, #despido, and #primeradama.

El Comentario Racista de Rodner Figueroa hoy en @elgordoylaflaca @univision #racismo #despido #rodnerfigueroa #primeradama #michellobama #tv

A video posted by Javier Ceriani (@javierceriani) on Mar 11, 2015 at 9:17pm PDT

The comment was later edited out of the West Coast airing of the show.

The talk show is produced by Emilio Estefan, husband of Gloria, and a known supporter of President Barack Obama.

Figueroa had just last year won a Daytime Emmy for his work on Univision. He has so far made no comment or offered an apology.

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Kyle Munzenrieder

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