Univision fires Rodner Figueroa...

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 3/12/15 at 4:06pm

because he said that Michelle Obama looks like one of the apes from PLANET OF THE APES.




SOURCE Updated On: 3/13/15 at 04:06 PM

[javero]

Posted: 3/12/15 at 4:26pm

One less mean gurl on cable tv.

Now, if all the Spanish-language networks would join forces and ban that piece of EXCRETA named Osmel Sousa I'd be in 7th heaven. Osmel is the Cuban-born force behind the Miss Venezuela franchise. He famously and fabulously said years ago that Black Venezuelan women are not very pretty for a number of reasons that reveal his personal biases. My best buddy is from Venezuela. He dismisses my complaints as envy because the chicas plasticas from Venezuela have won a whole bunch of Miss Universe crowns.

[DAME]

Posted: 3/12/15 at 4:27pm

Univision and Telemundo both need to do some housekeeping with their hosts, chat shows and variety shows. Spanish TV at times still use the term "Pato"when referring to a gay person. And they are always portraying stereotypes. And don't get me started on their treatment and objectifying of women.

Updated On: 3/12/15 at 04:27 PM

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 3/12/15 at 4:35pm

Let's start an online petition. I f ucking hate that word: PATO! Ugh! DO NOT GET ME STARTED!

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 3/12/15 at 4:38pm

Is it similar to the fa* word in English?

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 3/12/15 at 4:43pm

Wow, javero, I had no idea Osmel Sousa had said that. I'm from Venezuela and weirdly enough my childhood best friend ended up winning the Miss Universe pageant. I was obsessed with Miss Venezuela and the Miss Universe pageant growing up. It's pretty disappointing once you grow up to see what a misguided industry it actually is.
DAME, you could not be more right on the money regarding the treatment of gay people and women in Spanish TV. And at least Univision and Telemundo are the "mainstream" ones and get away with less than the awful awful awful (mostly Cuban) Spanish local networks in Miami put on. When I visit my parents in Miami, it's so upsetting to see the representation of gay people in the sketches they have on variety shows. It's like a real life THE NANCE, which was set in the 30s!

[javero]

Posted: 3/12/15 at 4:48pm

I have to go back to my buddy from Venezuela. We've had some very interesting conversations thru the years in which we've compared and contrasted race relations and feminism in both nations. His family is very white and one of his brothers married to an Afro-Venezuelan lady while another brother is gay. He doesn't hesitant to admit that even today anyone could use the Venezuelan equivalents to the 'f' and 'n' words on-air and in the streets of his hometown with impunity.

I don't mean to single out Venezuela though based solely on his accounts nor am I suggesting that we've resolved our issues with respect to gender equality, marriage equality, and the color line here in the US.

Updated On: 3/12/15 at 04:48 PM

[DAME]

Posted: 3/12/15 at 4:59pm

Yes. It is similar to that fa* word in English. @Ray the Cuban shows produced in Miami are the worst. So offensive. So hateful.

[javero]

Posted: 3/12/15 at 5:11pm

@Ray

Please tell me that your initials are not L.H.P. and that you're not from Barquisimeto

@DAME

I first came across the word 'cachapera' while watching one of those Cuban by way of Miami talk shows. I shaite you not...the presenter greeted the audience and viewers with..."Hoy en el programa de Fulana de Tal...mi hija es una torta"

Updated On: 3/12/15 at 05:11 PM

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 3/12/15 at 5:19pm

Ugh...don't get me started on the miami based programs from Univision and Telemundo. I lived in Miami for 12 years and I have to tell you some of the Latinos down there are just reprehensible.

[javero]

Posted: 3/12/15 at 6:06pm

Seems that Rodner penned an open letter to Mrs. Obama. Details after the jump...
Rodner's Open Letter to the FLOTUS

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 3/12/15 at 8:46pm

Wasn't that what the piece of wood who plays the Latino on Looking mumbled to Jonathan Groff many times in season 1?

[PalJoey]

Posted: 3/12/15 at 9:04pm

I have no horse in this race, but, as public apologies go, that was a pretty good one. So much better than Russell Tovey's.

But at a certain point, we're gonna have to get over this addiction to public stoning. It's getting downright bloodthirsty. ("Who can we throw rocks at today? Who said something stupid enough for public shaming?")

Wouldn't it be something if we could turn these Internet stonings into teaching and learning moments?

[PalJoey]

Posted: 3/12/15 at 9:04pm

Double post.

Updated On: 3/12/15 at 09:04 PM

[DAME]

Posted: 3/12/15 at 9:48pm

I understand what you are saying. But people need to stop getting away with stupid ****.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 3/12/15 at 10:24pm

Well, apparently, now that we have the Internet, no one will ever get away with stupid **** again.

Including you and me. So watch out. We're next.

[DAME]

Posted: 3/12/15 at 10:51pm

Oh I agree with you on that.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 3/13/15 at 10:12am

Wow, I think he absolutely did the right thing. He acknowledged and owned up to his mistake. Unfortunately he lost his job because of it but all he can really do at this point is learn the lesson and move forward.

I found much to relate to in his apology. I can see it from his perspective. Sometimes in trying to be funny we can get carried away. We're human. We make mistakes. It's part of life.

A public stoning isn't really necessary.

I actually feel bad for him now.





Updated On: 3/13/15 at 10:12 AM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 3/13/15 at 10:54am

^^ That's how PR works.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 3/13/15 at 11:08am

I feel you, PalJoey. I can't imagine if my stupid **** was made available for the world to see. At the same time, I think there's something severely wrong with the fact someone thinks it is okay to compare the first black first lady to an ape, especially given the fact that as a civilization, we used the idea that black people are animals in order to justify all the ways in which black people have been mistreated and subjugated historically. There is also this understanding of blackness as somehow "primitive" that is so fvcked up (and I know you know this, it just bears saying, I'm not trying to condescend or teach since I respect you immensely). But I do agree this could be turned into a teaching moment rather than into a public stoning, but I'm not exactly sure how to do that. As someone from Venezuela, I continue to be saddened by the deeply racist culture that is so inherent to the country.
I talked to my mom yesterday after reading this thread and she actually brought it up. She was very sad for Rodner, though I was pleasantly surprised that she understood what was wrong with the comment he made (about 10 years ago, I'd say she would have defended it).

Javero, my initials are definitely not L.H.P and I'm not from Barquisimeto My initials are RGM and I'm from Caracas.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 3/13/15 at 11:31am

Part of me thinks it's not surprising that someone who said something so insulting about someone's appearance - even apart from the racial overtones of the comment, it's grossly insulting - would be fired.

Another part of me thinks how hypocritical we are given that John Simon and Joan Rivers made careers out of wielding these kinds of insults.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 3/13/15 at 11:35am

There were some people who spoke out against those two.

[Brian07663NJ]

Posted: 3/13/15 at 11:51am

The picture of Rodner above has some striking similarities to this picture.

His comment was unprofessional and unfortunately was poor judgement to let it slip.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 3/13/15 at 11:53am

^ ^ ^ Oh Lawd...I almost pee'd my pants!!

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 3/13/15 at 12:00pm

Wasn't that what the piece of wood who plays the Latino on Looking mumbled to Jonathan Groff many times in season 1?

Hey! I saw that piece of wood in Death and the Maiden with Sandra Oh. His performance was very...consistent.