Donald Trump with Miss Connecticut Erin Brady. (Photo : Reuters)
Spanish-language TV network Univision is now in the spotlight after United States presidential candidate, and Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants co-owner Donald Trump filed a $500 million lawsuit against it on June 30, Tuesday, for refusing to broadcast the July 12 Miss USA pageant.
The network announced the cancellation last week following the billionaire businessman's derogatory statements against Mexican immigrants during his candidacy announcement referring to them as "rapists" and blaming them for crimes and carrying drugs to the U.S.
"Some I assume are good people, but I speak to border guards and they tell us what we are getting," Trump said during his public speech.
The $500 million lawsuit accused the network of suppressing Trump's freedom of speech in order to boost rival and Democratic frontrunner Hilary Clinton. Univision's owner was reportedly a Clinton fundraiser.
But Univision, America's largest Spanish TV network, was quick to blast back at Trump saying his facts are false and calling the lawsuit, "legally ridiculous" according to CNN. Spokesperson for Univision was stern that it will forcefully defend its case and continue to fight against Trump's efforts to cover up the derogatory comments he made about Mexican immigrants.
TV network NBC, which aired Trumps's reality show "The Apprentice," has also decided to cut ties with the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants citing the same reason as Univision, Reuters reported.
Concerns whether the Miss USA pageant will be cancelled still remains. In Trump's statement, he blamed Univision and NBC for abandoning 50 young women who only wish to pursue their dreams.
