Blowback against Univision over its Donald Trump stunt
Two weeks ago, Univision, a predominantly Spanish language media company interviewed Donald Trump in what many viewed as a PR-move catering to his 2024 campaign. Not only did he get a lot of softball questions, but shortly after the interview, media ran with bombshell revelations of what the former guy would do if he were ever given another shot at power.
It turns out that this came with a price tag – as Univision also agreed to cancel a number of pro-Biden campaign ads in exchange for the interview. Now, the network is beginning to see the fallout of airing this interview – and it’s not really all that different than what happens whenever other media companies decide to give free press to the former guy.
Now the network is beginning to feel the fallout for their reckless decision – with the anchor who helmed the interview separating from the network shortly after it happened without giving an explanation for why he’s leaving the network – nor did Univision give a reason for his departure. In the wake of the interview (during which Donald Trump boasted that the network’s owners love him), there have been a number of boycotts, one headed by actor John Leguizamo calling on fellow artists and entertainers to refuse to appear on the network for airing what was clearly propaganda.
There’s a lot of signs here that this story is liable to grow much bigger, and that likely other networks besides Univision have been doing the bidding of the former guy for sometime. It also serves, however, as a reminder that the situation is never hopeless, and that there’s always ways to fight back. That’s why now more than ever we need to fight and win in 2024.
James Sullivan is the assistant editor of Brain World Magazine and an advocate of science-based policy making