Univision has fired one of its most popular talk show hosts after he said on air that Michelle Obama looked like she was part of “the cast of ‘Planet of the Apes.’ ”
The growing American Spanish-language network terminated the employment of Rodner Figueroa on Thursday afternoon, less than one day after he made the racist comment on his popular “El Gorda y la Flaca” program.
In a statement provided to People en Español, the network said there was “no room for racism” at Univision.
“Yesterday during the entertainment program ‘El Gordo y La Flaca,’ Rodner Figueroa made some comments about First Lady Michelle Obama that were completely reprehensible and in no way a reflection of the values and opinions of Univision. As a result, Mr. Figueroa was fired immediately,” the network said.
On Wednesday, during a segment on his show about the use of makeup by celebrities, Figueroa, an Emmy award-winner, said that “Michelle Obama looks like she is from the cast of the ‘Planet Of The Apes.’ ”
The derogatory remarks were widely circulated on social media.