NBC Drops Trump, Miss USA, In Wake Of Anti-Immigrant Speech

It took them a few days, but NBC is finally taking a hard stance against Donald Trump and his racist, anti-immigrant statements. Last Thursday, sister network Univision announced it would not air the Miss USA or Miss Universe pageants, which are joint ventures of NBC and the Trump Organization. Today, NBC said it has cut all ties with the real estate mogul-turned-reality-TV star and Republican presidential hopeful. "Due to the recent derogatory statements by Donald Trump regarding immigrants, NBCUniversal is ending its business relationship with Mr. Trump," a statement from the network reads. "To that end, the annual Miss USA and Miss Universe Pageants, which are part of a joint venture between NBC and Trump, will no longer air on NBC." Those derogatory statements were made during Trump's June 16 speech announcing his bid for the 2016 presidential election. He said Mexican immigrants to the U.S. "have lots of problems, and they're bringing those problems with us. They're bringing drugs. They're bringing crime. They're rapists." The Miss USA pageant was set to air on NBC on July 12, and Trump's Miss Universe organization was in the middle of a five-year, $13.5 million contract with NBC, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The paper says the pageant has been a "modest" performer in the ratings, so it is not a giant loss for the network. Trump had already quit The Apprentice earlier this year, presumably to concentrate on his campaign, but the NBC statement reiterates that they're holding onto the show, which is still pretty popular on its own. "In addition, as Mr. Trump has already indicated, he will not be participating in The Apprentice on NBC. Celebrity Apprentice is licensed from Mark Burnett's United Artists Media Group and that relationship will continue."