Marc Anthony Joins Growing Lists of Latino Stars Angry at Donald Trump's Rhetoric
Marc Anthony has joined a growing list of angry Latino celebrities -- Eva Longoria, Ricky Martin and Pitbull among them -- in voicing his displeasure with 2016 Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump's views on Latinos.
Anthony waited until he was back home in New York at the city's biggest stage, Madison Square Garden, to let the world know how he really feels about Trump's pledge to deport 11 million immigrants if he is elected president.
"F--- Donald Trump," Anthony told a wildly cheering, sold out crowd during last week's concert appearance. "Wake that motherf---er up."
While no one's words have resonated quite as colorfully as Anthony's, Latino celebrities have raised their voices against Trump, revealing a growing number of discontent with the GOP frontrunner.
Here's what others have said in reaction to some of the immigration policies he has proposed and his rhetoric:
Ricky Martin
In late August, the Puerto Rican pop star angrily called on Latinos to declare "enough is enough" when it comes to the outspoken GOP candidate."Let's demand respect for those first generations of Latinos who came to the United States and opened a path for us," he said. "We have fought for every right that we have today."
Martin's tirade continued in an Univision op-ed piece that was sparked by Trump kicking legendary Mexican-American reporter Jorge Ramos out on one of his press conferences.
America Ferrera
"I'm writing to say thank you," Telesur TV reported the Honduran-American actress penned in an open letter to Trump after he branded Mexican immigrants rapists and criminals in a June campaign speech. "Remarks like yours will serve brilliantly to energize Latino voters and increase turnout on Election Day against you and any other candidate who runs on a platform of hateful rhetoric."
Gina Rodriguez
The "Jane The Virgin" star praised Ferrera for her courage and convictions and hoped her words would go a long way in spurring widespread community response.
Shakira
In a tweet that came soon after Trump's aforementioned campaign launch speech that labeled Mexican immigrants as rapists and killers, the Colombian singer chastised him,
This is a hateful and racist speech that attempts to divide a country that for years has promoted diversity and democracy! 1/2
— Shakira (@shakira) June 30, 2015
Eva Longoria
At a National Association of Latino Independent Producers event in early July, the Hollywood Reporter noted the fiery "Telenovela" star compared Trump's ongoing putdowns of Mexican immigrants to the kind of venom once espoused by the likes of Hitler.
"What I think he doesn't understand and what people don't understand is words create emotional poison," she added. "Hitler moved a nation with words, just words... so you have to expect this backlash. If you say something like that, as he has said, you must expect a backlash."
Pitbull
In early July, the Cuban-American singer warned Trump to be on the lookout for then fugitive Mexican drug kingpin El Chapo and vowed he would never again stay at a Trump-owned property,CNN reported.
"I had a different idea of this man," he added of Trump, whom he claims to have had previous dealings with. "I want to tell him, look, I'm not a politician, I'm a musician, but most of all I'm Latino."
J Balvin
In what Billboard reported was slated to be his "first performance on national mainstream television," Balvin pulled out of a Miss USA contest performance in late June as part of his protest over to some of Trump's comments.
"We're talking about our roots, our culture, our values," he said of all Trump's vows of massive deportations.
Wisin
The Puerto Rican born reggaetonero star also felt compelled to come to the defense of Ramos and Latinos everywhere after Trump had him escorted from one of his press conferences. "Basta Ya," he said in a statement, which translates to mean "enough."
According to Billboard, in his late August statement, Wisin added, "Mr. Donald Trump, someone who disrespects one of us disrespects all of us."
Watch Marc Anthony's speech:
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