Donald Trump is suing the Spanish-language TV station Univision for $500 million after they decided not to air this year's Miss USA pageant.
|
ADVERTISEMENT
|
The lawsuit states Univision is contractually obligated to broadcast the pageant and trying to restrain Trump's freedom of speech under the First Amendment with political motives since The Celebrity Apprentice star is running for president.
However, Univision argues the network simply reacted to offensive comments Trump had made about Mexican immigrants in his campaign speech two weeks ago.
Trump insists a Univision executive actually called him to apologize and backtrack, saying they had made the wrong choice and felt ashamed.
"As a consequence of their inappropriate actions, Univision and NBC have abandoned 51 wonderful young women who have come from all over the United States to pursue their dream of being crowned Miss USA," Trump said in a statement obtained by the ABC affiliate.
"Their participation in this globally renowned pageant has come at great cost and after years of sacrifice and hard work. NBC and Univision have wronged them greatly."
In a letter addressed to Univision's CEO last week, Trump reportedly said he will no longer allow its employees anywhere near one of his properties.
NBC had also cut business ties with Trump on Monday for having said Mexican immigrants are mostly druglords, rapists and criminals.
Trump has continued to stand by his remarks about Mexico but tweeted Tuesday, "I love the Mexican people, but Mexico is not our friend. They're killing us at the border and they're killing us on jobs and trade. Fight!"
Miss USA contestants began arriving in Louisiana's capital on Monday for the July 12 pageant, which will still go on despite NBC's withdrawal.
"While world politics and other influences will undoubtedly play a role, the pageant will always seek to transcend controversy," the Miss USA organization said in a statement obtained by TheWrap.
"We want our supporters to know we remain committed to them and we will be conducting the pageant, regardless of the current situation. We are moving forward, full-steam ahead as planned for the next two weeks, culminating in the crowning of a new Miss USA on July 12th."
FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS!
Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source!
Trump is allegedly threatening to sue NBC as well for their nonparticipation. The network, however, airs his The Apprentice franchise.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
