Univision Host Fired Over Michelle Obama ‘Apes’ Comment

Univision unceremoniously sacked its talk show personality Rodner Figueroa after comments he made on-air about Michelle Obama. The Daytime Emmy-winning fashionista was doing a live segment Wednesday in which the hosts were commenting on a video about a makeup artist who morphs himself to look like various celebrities. When the first lady’s likeness came up, Figueroa said with a chuckle, “Well, watch out, you know that Michelle Obama looks like she’s from the cast of Planet Of The Apes, the movie.”

Co-host Lili Estefan asked, “What are you saying?” and her fellow co-host Raul de Molina said the first lady is attractive. Figueroa added, “But it’s true.”

“Yesterday during our entertainment program El Gordo Y La Flaca, Rodner Figueroa made comments regarding First Lady Michelle Obama that were completely reprehensible and in no way reflect Univision’s values or views,” the broadcaster said in a statement today. “As a result, Mr. Figueroa was immediately terminated.” Figueroa’s bio already has been removed from its talent page. The firing comes days after Univision Communications reportedly hired Goldman Sachs and others to underwrite a potential $1 billion IPO.