NEW YORK – Racism is racism, but the bigotry of Nigel Farage ("companies should be able to hire based on nationality") is just a touch more subtle than the latest outburst vexing the US after an Emmy-winning talk show host said live on-air that Michelle Obama looks like a cast member from "Planet Of The Apes."
Rodner Figueroa, who works for the Spanish language channel Univision, made the remark on Wednesday while appearing on an entertainment news show. During a segment on how a well-known male make-up artist is able to transform himself into a female celebrity, Figueroa said: "You know that Michelle Obama looks like she's part of the cast of Planet Of The Apes, the film."
Emmy or not, there’s no coming back from that, and the channel duly dispatched the hapless host to TV oblivion. A statement on Thursday confirmed the inevitable: "Yesterday during the entertainment show El Gordo y La Flaca, Rodner Figueroa made comments about First Lady Michelle Obama that were completely reprehensible and in no way reflect the values or opinions of Univision. As a result, Mr. Figueroa was fired immediately."
There’s been no word from Figueroa on the incident of his firing, though he’s no doubt sat at home surveying his ruined career: “You Maniac! You blew it up! Ah, damn you! God damn you all to hell!”