Gay Univision Host Demands Reinstatment After Firing For Remarks About First Lady

Via the Wrap:

Rodner Figueroa, the fashion reporter for Univision’s “El Gordo y La Flaca,” who was fired for allegedly making disparaging comments about First Lady Michelle Obama on the air, is taking aim at his former employer. Or at least his famed Hollywood attorney, Marty Singer, is. In a scathing letter to Univision executives, Singer accuses the network of lying about the First Lady complaining about Figueroa’s comments, and says that Univision “falsely painted [Figueroa] as a racist.” The letter also demands that Univision reinstate Figueroa, who was fired earlier this month, and issue a public apology to him.

“I am writing regarding the outrageous tortious conduct of Univision Networks (‘Univision’), in which Univision defamed my client and falsely painted him as a racist, and publicly lied that the termination of his employment was at the request of the Office of the First Lady, Michelle Obama,” the letter, addressed to Univision Communications president and CEO Randy Falco, Univision Networks vice president Fabrizio Alcobe and others, reads. “Univision’s ignominious actions have caused irreparable injury to his reputation and career, for which the network will be held fully accountable.”

During a live segment about a make-up artist, Rodner had appeared to say that the First Lady looked like a character from Planet Of The Apes. Later that same day after his firing, he issued open letter to the First Lady in which he apologized for poorly chosen words which were "misunderstood."