Ricky Martin Blasts Donald Trump, Defends ‘Beloved’ Journalist Jorge Ramos
Donald Trump continues to be blasted by the Latino community in his run for the Republican presidential candidacy. This time, it’s Latin singing heartthrob Ricky Martin who has put the candidate on notice as he also defended one of Univision’s most “respected and beloved” journalists, Jorge Ramos.
In a scathing op-ed for Univision, Ricky Martin asked why Donald Trump “gratuitously” harasses the Latin community and why that community apparently continues to allow him to do so. He also said that Trump’s intention as he pursued the nation’s highest office was quite clear: “basically tell barbarities and lies to remain relevant in the public opinion, for votes or simply to stay on the media’s radar.”
In a press conference in Iowa August 25, Trump ejected reporter Jorge Ramos for asking a question when Trump had not acknowledged him. He told Ramos, “Go back to Univision,” and security escorted him from the room. Ramos was invited to return, and he and Trump spoke for a few moments following the incident. The questions Ramos were trying to ask, though, were left unanswered.
According to Latino Decisions polling during the 2012 election, Ramos is not just a new reporter starting out on his first assignment; he is the most trusted news source for Latinos. Ricky Martin, like other Latinos, knows this very well, and has said “enough is enough” when it comes to the bombastic statements from Donald Trump.
“Let’s demand respect for those first generations of Latinos who came to the United States and opened a path for us. We have fought for every right that we have today,” Martin said in his op-ed.
Univision CEO Randy Falco joined Ricky Martin in condemning Donald Trump’s continued attack on Latinos.
“Mr. Trump demonstrated complete disregard for (Ramos) and for the countless Hispanics whom Jorge seeks to represent through press questions that are at the heart of the First Amendment,” he said in a statement.
Jorge Ramos has had a contentious relationship with Trump in the past but now is encouraging his fellow journalists to, in Time magazine’s words, “do more to make Trump answer the tough questions.”
Ricky Martin agrees. The Voice Australia coach says that he is tired of Trump’s “xenophobic” speech, and Ricky Martin believes more needs to be done to restrain Trump’s racist speech.
“We have to defeat the power that Trump pretends to have over Latinos, anchored in low rhetoric and xenophobic speech, which his campaign team is convinced works for him,” he said in his Univision op-ed.
Ricky Martin is joining a growing list of Latino and Latina stars that are calling for Trump to be more mindful of his words when discussing Latino culture. Shakira, Mexican-American rapper Becky G, and Rosie Perez are among those who have preceded Ricky Martin in slamming Trump’s negative comments against Latinos.
This is a hateful and racist speech that attempts to divide a country that for years has promoted diversity and democracy! 1/2
— Shakira (@shakira) June 30, 2015
No one living in this century should stand behind so much ignorance. 2/2http://t.co/jsx0KHdmzO
— Shakira (@shakira) June 30, 2015
[Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images]
