8 Stars Respond to Donald Trump and his Racist Rant

Donald Trump has a odd way of engaging with Hispanic voters. During his presidential campaign announcement on June 16th, he made some disparaging remarks about Mexican immigrants, saying, “When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best…They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.” We’re not saying immigration reform isn’t worthy of discussion, but this was a disrespectful way to start the dialogue. As the largest ethnic minority in America, over 54 million strong, it wasn’t the best move for a guy hoping to become president.

Not surprisingly, there has been a strong backlash against Donald Trump and his racist rant, not just from the Latino community but from corporate America and beyond. Univision, NBC and Macy’s are some of the big business deals Trump has been tossed from. Even celebrities have weighed in on the issue, calling him out for these inflammatory generalizations. Here are are 8 stars who spoke out on Trump’s controversial comments.

1. Roselyn Sánchez

Actress/singer, Roselyn Sánchez, was set to co-host the Spanish simulcast of the Trump-owned Miss USA pageant on July 12, 2015. After the Donald put his foot in his mouth, the Devious Maids star dropped out of the gig, saying she couldn’t tolerate his “disrespectful and hurtful” words. In her statement, she said “Although I am not Mexican, I am Puerto Rican and a proud Latina, and his comments were an insult to our culture. I won’t sponsor anything produced by Donald Trump.”

Others celebrities have walked away from the Spanish and English broadcasts, including J Balvin, Christian De La Fuente, Flo Rida, Craig Wayne Bond, Natalie La Rose, Emmitt Smith, Jonathan Scott, Cheryl Burke, Jeannie Mai, and Thomas Roberts.

2. America Ferrera

Ugly Betty actress, America Ferrera, who is of Honduran descent, wrote a response to Donald Trump’s controversial diatribe on the Huffington Post. “I heard what you said about the kind of people you think Latino immigrants are — people with problems, who bring drugs, crime and rape to America. While your comments are incredibly ignorant and racist, I don’t want to spend my time chastising you.” Instead, she thanked the presidential candidate for his straight-shooting speech which she predicts will “energize Latino voters and increase turnout on Election Day against you and any candidate who runs on a platform of hateful rhetoric.”

3. Shakira

Colombian superstar Shakira also stuck up for her Latino community. She responded to Donald Trump and his racist rant by saying, “This is a hateful and racist speech that attempts to divide a country that for years has promoted diversity and democracy,” She added, “No one living in this century should stand behind so much ignorance.”

4. George Lopez

Mexican-American comedian, George Lopez, didn’t hold back in lambasting Trump in a TMZ interview. He said he will be boycotting all Trump businesses, adding “Those comments are vile in any civilized society.” However, he admits that there might be a chance for a President Trump, saying, “There are enough racists in this country for him to get elected.”

5. Ricky Martin

The Living La Vida Loca singer called out Mr. Trump in a Spanish tweet that translates to “There’s much hatred and ignorance in your heart @realDonaldTrump.” He further punctuated this by pulling his annual Ricky Martin Foundation charity golf tournament from the Trump International Golf Club in his native Puerto Rico.

6. Eva Longoria

Former Desperate Housewife, Eva Longoria, is another high-profile celebrity to slam Donald Trump for his anti-Mexican vitriol. In an E! interview, she said, “What I think he doesn’t understand and what people don’t understand is words create emotional poison. …Hitler moved a nation with words, just words,” she said. “So you have to expect this backlash. If you say something like that, as he has said, you must expect a backlash.”

7. Guillermo Rodriguez

Adding a little comedy to the heated issue, Jimmy Kimmel sidekick, Guillermo Rodriguez, spoke in Spanish on the show to the sounds of a Mariachi band playing America the Beautiful in the background. His words were (mis)subtitled with phrases like, “Your terrible comb-over makes you look like a chupacabra.” Sometimes humor is the best response.

8. Aaron Paul

Perhaps Aaron Paul of Breaking Bad said it best. His succinct tweet on June 30, 2015 read, “Dear Donald Trump, You’re an Idiot.” It’s a free country, and you’re free to agree or disagree with this actor’s opinion about Donald Trump and his racist rant.