Congressional Hispanic Caucus Asks to Meet With TelevisaUnivision CEO Amid Trump Interview Backlash

Alex Weprin
·2 min read
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The Congressional Hispanic Caucus on Monday afternoon asked for a meeting with TelevisaUnivision CEO Wade Davis, raising concerns about the company’s “continued commitment to its mission and its audience” and citing concerns about “preventing the spread of mis- and disinformation in Latino communities.”

According to the letter, a copy of which was shared with The Hollywood Reporter, the CHC is requesting a meeting with Davis to discuss concerns that arose from the controversial Trump interview.

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“The network prides itself on the trust the audience places in their journalists and years of fair and accurate reporting,” the letter states. “Circumstances surrounding the interview with former President Trump have given the appearance that the company has not upheld these standards.”

The interview with Trump ignited a firestorm of criticism, with Democrats complaining that the tone and tenor of the interview were too friendly to Trump, and angry that ads that the Biden administration had purchased to run during the Trump interview were canceled at the last minute.

A Univision anchor, Leon Krauze, who anchored Noticiero Univision Edición Nocturna, exited the company last week, despite sources saying he had more than a year left on his contract, raising questions as to whether it was related to the interview.

And the actor and producer John Leguizamo late last week called for a boycott of the Spanish-language TV network, dubbing it “Magavision.”

“I am asking all my brothers and sisters who are actors, artists, politicians, activists to not go on Univision,” he said.

The interview was conducted by the veteran journalist Enrique Acevedo, who anchors the Televisa newscast En punto, but who previously worked as a correspondent for CBS’ 60 Minutes, and moderated a 2016 presidential debate for Univision.

Trump praised the owners of the company in the interview, telling Acevedo “the Latino vote is so incredible because they’re unbelievable people. They have incredible skills, incredible energy, and they’re very entrepreneurial. All you have to do is look at the owners of Univision. They’re unbelievable entrepreneurial people. And they like me.”

TelevisaUnivision also co-hosted a Republican primary debate in September, with its anchor Ilia Calderón serving as a moderator alongside hosts from Fox Business Network.

The tone of the interview, and the resultant backlash, seems to have sparked the CHC to take action.

“At a time when mis- and disinformation is rampant in the Latino community, it has never been more important for our community to have trusted news sources,” the CHC letter says. “It is imperative that you meet with the CHC to answer our serious concerns about these recent reports and prove that our Members, our constituents, and the American Latino community, can rely on Univision to provide accurate, balanced, and truthful information.”

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