Donald Trump on SNL: Latino Advocates Want 'Saturday Night Live' to Disinvite Trump
A coalition of Latino advocacy groups wants NBC to disinvite Donald Trump from the network's long-running "Saturday Night Live" late-night program, where the GOP presidential front-runner is set to appear on Nov. 7.
The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA) accused Trump of insulting Latinos and warned that an appearance on the show would give the real estate mogul, turned presidential contender, a platform to spread such rhetoric, the Associated Press reported.
"We are appalled that you would enable Trump's hateful speech for nothing [more] than a ratings ploy and ask that you rescind the ['Saturday Night Live'] invitation," the group wrote in a letter addressed to NBC Universal CEO Stephen Burke and "SNL" executive producer Lorne Michaels.
The former "Apprentice" star himself, in fact, predicted that his appearance would turn into a ratings bonanza for the program, a fact that he said would mute any considerations of rescinding the invitation, according to Deadline Hollywood.
"If they want to do the show with one-third the ratings, they might [disinvite me]," Trump told the Fox News morning program "Fox & Friends" on Monday. "I think, frankly, the ratings are going to be through the roof. Lorne Michaels is a very smart guy; NBC are very smart people."
The GOP front-runner also questioned whether organizations such as the NHLA -- which represents 40 regional and national Latino groups -- truly represent Latinos across the United States.
"These groups are out for themselves," he said. "I know all about these groups. I'm leading in the polls with the Hispanics. ... I have thousands of Hispanics that work for me, my relationships to Hispanics is I think better than those groups. Those groups are [only] looking to fundraise."
Meanwhile, Felix Sanchez, the chairman and co-founder of the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts -- one of NHLA's member groups -- is reviewing options that go beyond the letter sent to NBC. Such actions might include staging protests the night of the telecast, or calling for boycotts of the show or network, Sanchez told Billboard.
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