Group Demands Apology from ‘The View’ Producers for ‘Racist, Sexist’ Comments Made About Rosie Perez

ABC’s daytime series The View has become synonymous with controversy. However, recently critics have singled out the show’s executive producers, rather than its hosts, for “racist” and defamatory language used against Hispanic co-host Rosie Perez.

Perez, who is a new addition to the show’s lineup, is already fighting to dispel rumors she will be replaced. Meanwhile, her supporters have now taken aim at The View’s executive producers for statements made by an anonymous source close to the show’s production.

A Latina leadership group calling itself #YoSoyRosie, is demanding an apology over a quote in a New York Daily News article, in which an anonymous source said Perez is “constantly correcting herself because she’s constantly screwing something up,” and “she’s not the sharpest tool in the shed.”

In a story published by Variety, a source also said that Perez didn’t grasp the show’s mixture of hard and soft news, and she had trouble reading from a teleprompter.

The remarks were reportedly made by someone inside the series’ production, but now the #YoSoyRosie is demanding an apology from The View’s producers in a disconcerted letter.

TheWrap obtained a copy of the letter from the group, which partially reads:

It doesn’t take a genius to read in to the racist and sexist language hurled against Ms. Perez.

The stereotype that Latinas are stupid is outrageous. There is no excuse for this behavior. Network officials should not tolerate this kind of racist conduct. The fact that the leaks come from one of your staffers is deeply outrageous.

We expect more from the staff of The View and ABC network. When you disparage the only Latina on ‘The View’ you disparage all Latinas. Rosie Perez and by extension, all Latinas, deserve an immediate apology.

More than 80 people reportedly signed the letter, including Latino magazine associate publisher Dalia E. Almanza-Smith, former New York Secretary of State Lorraine Cortes-Vazquez, and producer Sofia Quintero

ABC has made no comments regarding the controversy. However, a network representative told TheWrap last week that Perez’s status as a co-host on The View “has not changed.”