John Leguizamo Blasts 'SNL' For Having Donald Trump Host, Vows to Never Watch Again
John Leguizamo blasted all Donald Trump's fiery views and words about Hispanics as "hate mongering," and the actor joined the growing chorus of those calling for NBC to pull the plug on the candidate's "Saturday Night Live" hosting gig.
"You're celebrating someone who has said some horrible things," the famed actor and comedian told Yahoo. "I'm all for free speech, but this is different."
Since announcing his 2016 run for the White House and emerging as one of the Republican Party's leading candidates, the bombastic Trump has derided Mexican immigrants as "rapists and drug dealers."
More recently, Trump boasted, if elected, he would deport as many as 11 million immigrants in less than two years.
Leguizamo contended that all Trump's fiery rhetoric has manifested into hate crimes against Latino people.
"It's so dangerous, people have been hurt because of his words and he says his followers are passionate, which just shows his lack of empathy," he said. "If [Trump] had said those things about any other ethnic group, he would not be hosting 'SNL.'"
Indeed, many Hispanic groups have rallied their forces in opposition to the plan and slammed NBC for signing off on it. The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda and comedian Margaret Cho have been at the forefront of all the protests.
A longtime registered Democrat, Leguizamo nonetheless praised fellow GOP candidate Marco Rubio during his Yahoo interview, based on the Florida senator's recent debate performance. But the actor quickly added, "He's on the wrong side."
Trump is slated to host the Nov. 7 episode of "SNL." He has defended his harsh criticism of Latinos as simple, forthright honesty and an indifference toward political correctness.
Leguizamo said, "I find it hurtful and insulting, and you're celebrating someone who has said some horrible things. I find it unacceptable. I will not watch ... I won't watch 'SNL' anymore."
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