Hispanic advocacy organization National Council of La Raza (NCLR) has slammed NBC for inviting Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump to host an upcoming episode of Saturday Night Live.
Trump is set to host the NBC late night variety show’s November 7 episode, with Australian pop star Sia set as the evening’s musical guest. But NCLR lashed out at the network on Thursday, calling Trump’s hosting gig a “slap in the face” to Latino viewers, according to NBC News.
“This is not about lacking a sense of humor. Everyone knows that SNL is not just a comedy show,” NCLR President and CEO Janet Murguía said. “For the last 40 years, it has become a highly coveted platform for candidates from political parties who are looking to reach and connect with the American public.”
“It is appalling, then, [for] a show with that history and that role to showcase a man whose campaign has been built on bigotry and demagoguery for the sake of buzz and ratings,” she added.
NBC had cut ties with Trump in June, when the billionaire businessman used his presidential announcement speech to make stopping illegal immigration the centerpiece of his campaign. Donald Trump has since appeared on several NBC shows, including Jimmy Fallon’s Tonight Show and Meet the Press.
Trump previously hosted Saturday Night Live in 2004.
NCLR is not the only organization criticizing NBC’s invitation to Donald Trump; according to NBC News, Felix Sanchez of the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts also condemned the choice.
“You’re letting someone call Mexicans rapists and murderers and the welcome mat gets put out,” Sanchez told NBC.
Another group may also have a problem with Trump’s hosting gig, although for an entirely different reason altogether; according to CNN, Donald Trump’s appearance on SNL could trigger the FCC’s “equal time” rule for the other presidential contenders. The federal rule mandates that all presidential candidates receive equal air time on networks.
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