Fired Univision Host's Lawyer Says He Was Let Go for Trying to Unionize Company, Not for Michelle Obama Comments
Rodner Figueroa was recently fired by Univision for some comments he made about First Lady Michelle Obama on the show "El Gordo Y La Flaca." Now, his attorney is claiming Obama never called to complain about the remarks, TMZ reports.
Figueroa's attorney, Matt Singer, said the Venezuelan host was not fired for what he said about Obama. Instead, Singer believes that Figueroa's firing was illegal and that the Spanish-language network has made the host seem like a racist. Singer adds that Figueroa was trying to stand up for the people at Univision and trying to get them unionized.
Earlier this month, Figueroa had a segment on the show where he looked at images of a makeup artist transforming into female celebrities. One of the pictures was of Obama.
Figueroa said the picture of Obama looked like someone from the cast of "Planet of the Apes." Univision immediately fired him for that comment.
Figueroa's lawyer wrote a letter to Univision claiming it created a phony excuse for firing him. The lawyer says that Univision fired Figueroa after receiving a formal complaint from Michelle Obama's Office. However, Singer says that was a lie and there was never a complaint about the comments Figueroa made on the show.
Univision has previously said that it did not receive a complaint from the White House.
"We actually informed the White House of the situation," said an Univision executive, according to the Washington Post. "There was no communication from the White House."
But Singer maintains that firing Figueroa was a way to keep him from trying to form a union at Univision.
Figueroa, who is a gay biracial Latino, says he was not referring to Michelle Obama when he made the comment. Rather, he said that he was talking about the bad makeup job by the makeup artist.
At the end of the letter to Univision, Singer uses a Rosa Parks reference.
"Make no mistake, despite Univision's best efforts, Latino talent will not be forced to 'sit in the back of the bus' any longer," Singer wrote.
Singer demands that Figueroa is re-hired by Univision and that the company make a public apology. It is unknown if Figueroa and his attorney are demanding any money in their demands against Univision.
What do you think of the whole situation? Was Rodner Figueroa illegally fired? Leave us your thoughts below.
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