Latina Leaders Demand Apology from ABC for Derogatory Remarks about Rosie Perez

Photo credit to: Joella Marano

#YoSoyRosie: LATINA LEADERS DEMAND APOLOGY FROM ABC FOR DEROGATORY REMARKS MADE ABOUT ROSIE PEREZ IN OPEN LETTER TO PRODUCERS OF “THE VIEW”

Press Release Received Via Email today:

New York, NY, January 20, 2015 – A group of high-powered Latinas from a wide range of professions – politicians, scholars, artists, business owners, activists, professors, authors – released an open letter to the producers of “The View” this morning demanding an apology to iconic actor Rosie Perez and all Latinas for derogatory comments made about Ms. Perez by one or more sources at the show.  New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, former New York Secretary of State Lorraine Cortes-Vazquez, best-selling author Esmeralda Santiago, and award-winning playwright Josefina Lopez are among the signatories.

The group’s outrage stems from recent comments issued to the press saying that Ms. Perez “is not the sharpest tool in the box” and “can’t read a TelePrompTer.”  “Questioning a woman’s intelligence is an old stereotype that is sexist and in this case, also racist,” the letter states.  It goes on to say, “When you disparage the only Latina on “The View” you disparage all Latinas.”

The letter is signed #yosoyrosie, launching a viral campaign to collect comments from others on this “hot topic.”

A full copy of the letter with the full list of signatories follows.

January 20, 2015

Open letter to the Executive Producers of “The View”

We are outraged that in the past few weeks a source from “The View” has been dispensing derogatory information to the press about Rosie Perez, first telling a NY Daily News reporter that Ms. Perez “is not the sharpest tool in the box” and most recently, being quoted in the industry outlet, Variety, saying that Ms. Perez “can’t read a TelePrompTer.”

It doesn’t take a genius to read into the racist and sexist language hurled against Ms. Perez. Questioning a woman’s intelligence is an old stereotype that is sexist and in this case, also racist. The stereotype that Latinas are stupid is outrageous. There is no excuse for this behavior. Network officials should not tolerate this kind of racist conduct.

The fact that the leaks come from one of your staffers is deeply offensive. Implicit in the insider comments is that Ms. Perez is unintelligent and illiterate. Ms. Perez is a beloved community icon, an acclaimed author, director, a member of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV& AIDS, an Academy Award nominated actor, a Broadway stage actor, and a dedicated activist. Those close to her know her as a compassionate and generous woman—yet this cowardly insider has maliciously smeared her anonymously.

When ABC announced that it had named Ms. Perez to co-host “The View,” the Latino and Latina community was proud and enthusiastic with the choice. Though it took show executives eighteen years to cast permanent Latina representation on the show, as Latinos and Latinas, we were delighted that finally someone of such caliber was chosen. That the network named an award-winning entertainer with an impressive history of activism in education, the arts, and Latino causes, was even more impressive. In naming Ms. Perez as a co-host, ABC chose an intelligent, committed, and esteemed Latina role model. People magazine's critic Tom Gliatto acknowledged Ms. Perez as the “best thing about the new View” and a “keeper.” The fact that in less than four months someone from your staff and network is slandering her is not only outrageous but, unacceptable.

We are furthermore disappointed that industry leader, Variety, chose to go with a story quoting an anonymous insider and failed to give Ms. Perez and her management an opportunity to respond. This is shoddy journalism at its best. Your bland statement in response to Variety’s article that Rosie Perez’ “status with the show has not changed,” added insult to injury.

Ms. Perez, Latinas and the entire Latino community merits respect, not insults. We expect more from the staff of “The View” and ABC network.

When you disparage the only Latina on “The View” you disparage all Latinas. Rosie Perez and by extension, all Latinas, deserve an immediate apology.

Sincerely,

 #yosoyrosie

Dalia E. Almanza-Smith

Associate Publisher

LATINO Magazine

Carmen Alustiza-Mondesire

Artist

Marilyn Alverio

CEO

Latinas & Power Inc.

Clara Padilla Andrews

President, Padilla Media 

Rosi Amador

Amador Bilingual

Marcela Bailey

Chief Digital Officer

Hispanic Scholarship Fund

Dolores Batista 

Allstate Insurance Company

Agency Owner, Karma Group LLC

Juana Bordas

President

Mestiza Leadership International

Sarah R. Bisconte

Independent Publicist

Marisa Calderon

Chief of Staff/Deputy Executive Director

NAHREP – National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals

Elba Cabrera

Arts Activist

Dr. Zulmara Cline

CSU Administrator

CEO Roots and Wings

Founder of Latina Gratitude Month

Lorraine Cortes-Vazquez

Former Secretary of State, New York

Evelyn Collazo

Artist

Lisa Trevino Cummins

President

Urban Strategies

Ingrid Duran

Co-Founder & Principal

D&P Creative Strategies

Gina Linn Espinoza

Founder /CEO, UpLatino,

Get Wise Latinas & Million Latina March

Dolores M. Fernandez

Professor

Hunter College, CUNY

Aurora Flores

CEO

Aurora Communications, Inc.

Honorable Lucy Flores

Senior Attorney

Maddox, Isaacson & Cisneros, LLP

Marisol Gómez-Mouakad

Producer, Director

Hormiga Cinema, LLC

Jessica González-Rojas

Executive Director

National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health

Christine Gutierrez

Psychotherapist & Life Coach

Sandra Guzmán

Author, Journalist

Former Editor, Latina, heart & soul magazines

Bel Hernandez

Executive Producer, CBS2 Hola

Publisher, Latinheat.com

Rev. Carmen Hernandez

Founder

The NYCLGBTQS Chamber of Commerce, Inc.

Amy Hinojosa

President and CEO

MANA, A National Latina Organization

Madeline LaSalle, LCSW

Founder & Executive Director 

Latinas Leading Tomorrow 

Dhalma Llanos Figueroa

Author

Tania M. Lambert

Writer Editor

Josefina López

Founding & Artistic Director

CASA 0101 Theater

Playwright, Real Women Have Curves

Ashley Love

Social Justice Activist, Journalist

Sandra E. Madrid, PhD

University of Washington Administrator 

Past Chair National Hispania Leadership Institute 

Founding Member, Latina/o Bar Association of Washington 

Azucena Maldonado

Founder/CEO

LGA - Latina Golfers Association

Melissa Mark-Viverito

City Council Member

Speaker, New York City Council

Loyda Martinez

Community Activist

Northern New Mexico

Rosa M. Melendez

Former U.S. Marshal for the Western District of WA

Retired Region 10 Director, USDOJ-CRS

Elisha Miranda

Writer, Director, Professor

Chica Sol Films

Marisol Morales

Director of Civic and Community Engagement

University of La Verne

Dr. Marta Moreno Vega

President & Founder

Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Center

Ivette Mayo

Founder & CEO

Yo Soy Expressions, LLC

Cecilia Mota

Founder

Coaching on the Go Network

Executive Director

Manny Mota International Foundation

Nancy Santiago Negron, Esq.

Opportunity Finance Network

Linda Nieves-Powell

Writer, Director

Maria F. Nieto

Writer, Producer

Catherine Pino

Co-Founder & Principal

D&P Creative Strategies

Kathy Quintana

Executive Vice President

HUB International Insurance Services Inc.

Sofia Quintero

Writer, Producer

Carmen Ramos-Watson

President/CEO

QMRI

Elianne Ramos

Principal, Speak Hispanic Communications

Founder, Border Kids Relief Project

Gladys Rivera

President, Puerto Rican Day Parade

Greater Hartford Region

Gina Rodriguez

Owner

Hecho con Cariño

Shirley Rodriguez

Founder & CEO

Create the Remarkable Inc.

Rosanna Rosado

Publisher Emeritus

El Diario La Prensa

Esmeralda Santiago

Author

Teresa Santiago, Chairperson 

Comite Noviembre 

Diana Shakti Contreras

Professor

CE Mesa College

Carmen Sierra

Director, Parent University

Dayanara Torres

Miss Universe 1993

Actor, Author

Jeannette Torres-Alvarez 

Mental Health Counselor-Early Childhood Expert 

Lydia Varela

Founder

LatinaXchange

Sandra Velasquez

Singer/Songwriter

Pistolera

CC:

Ben Sherwood, President, Disney

Ben.Sherwood@disney.com

818-460-6200

David Sloan

David.T.Sloan@abc.com

Tom Cibrowski

Tom.Cibrowski@abc.com

Sr. Vice President ABC News Division

Bill Wolff

Executive producer, ABC's "The View"

Bill.Wolff@abc.com

Randy Barone, ABC’s The View

Executive Producer

Randy.Barone@abc.com

Barbara Fedida

Executive Producer

Barbara.fedida@abc.com

Brian Balthazar

Senior Executive Producer, ABC’s The View

Brianbalthazar@aol.com

Liberty Counsel files complaint with the FCC for indecent acts of Adam Lambert against ABC

Washington, D.C. – On November 24, 2009 Liberty Counsel (www.LC.org) posted a press release on their site stating the has filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission against the American Broadcasting Company (“ABC”) for airing an outrageously lewd and filthy performance by Adam Lambert on November 22, 2009 during the 2009 American Music Awards. Among other things, Lambert simulated oral sex, simulated digital penetration, simulated sadomasochistic conduct and engaged in homosexual open-mouth kissing.

Prior to going on-air, Lambert explained that his motive went beyond performing. According to the Associated Press, Lambert “wanted to break down a double standard that existed where female performers are often sexually provocative while men don’t do it that often.”
ABC’s reaction was to promote Lambert’s indecent acts. While the network edited portions of another performer’s number for the West Coast’s viewing, only one small portion of Lambert’s performance was removed. ABC actually teased and touted the rest of his actions as “what everyone will be talking about tomorrow.” This shows that it was Lambert’s obscene sexual conduct, not his vocal performance that ABC used to promote its show.

Anita L. Staver, President of Liberty Counsel, remarked: “The performance by Adam Lambert clearly crossed the line. ABC should be held accountable for airing this indecent and offensive performance. ABC promoted Lambert’s performance to boost its ratings. Now ABC should have to pay a hefty penalty to the FCC for assaulting its viewers with a debased performance by Adam Lambert.”

Those wishing to contact ABC about this decision can write to ABC, Inc., 500 S. Buena Vista Street, Burbank, CA 91521. ABC can also be reached by calling (818) 460-7477, or you may contact ABC on the web at Audience Relations Department.

Editor Note: Adam Lambert music sounds great, may be he should have not done the performance on ABC TV network because he is not establish yet. Here is Adam’s music link: http://www.ilike.com/artist/Adam+Lambert/photo/578669814?set=322636

SHAKIRA TO PERFORM AT THE 2009 NCLR ALMA AWARDS AND FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA TO DELIVER A SPECIAL VIDEO MESSAGE

Los Angeles, CA—NCLR (National Council of La Raza), the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States, announced additional entertainers for this year’s revamped NCLR ALMA Awards®, which will showcase Latino talent in more arenas than ever before. Shakira will perform her new single, “She Wolf,” and Antonio Banderas will present Salma Hayek with the Anthony Quinn Award for Industry Excellence, Andy Garcia will present Oscar De La Hoya with an award for Special Achievement in Sports Television, and Jimmy Smits will present the PepsiCo Adelante Award to Raul Yzaguirre for his leadership, vision, and service to the Latino community.

The awards will highlight the importance of service in communities across America. First Lady Michelle Obama will deliver a special video message about community service and launch a new website designed to empower the Latino community.

Andy Garcia, Jordana Brewster, Jesse Metcalfe, Mario Lopez, Lauren Velez, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, John Leguizamo, Daisy Fuentes, and Cristián de la Fuente have all been added as presenters.

The show will feature a significant format change, with specially produced packages highlighting Latinos in the entertainment field. One of the Latino performers in each category will be honored for Special Achievement. Celebrities confirmed as presenters and performers are David Archuleta, Jake T. Austin, Benjamin Bratt, Jordana Brewster, Cristián de la Fuente, Oscar De La Hoya, Nelly Furtado, Daisy Fuentes, Andy Garcia, Joanna Garcia, Selena Gomez, Sean Kingston, Eva LaRue, John Leguizamo, Mario Lopez, Jesse Metcalfe, Rita Moreno, Enrique Murciano, Oscar Nuñez, Pitbull, Dania Ramirez, Efren Ramirez, James Roday , Adam Rodriguez, Michelle Rodriguez, Roselyn Sanchez , Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Sofia Vergara, Lauren Velez, Nadine Velazquez, Kat Von D, and Rainn Wilson.

The 2009 ALMA Awards will be hosted by Eva Longoria Parker and George Lopez. This year’s Title Sponsor is PepsiCo. Gold Sponsors are AT&T, Comcast, Doritos, Gatorade, Johnson & Johnson, Pepsi, Quaker, Target, and Tropicana. Silver Sponsors include ConAgra Foods, L’Oreal Paris, McDonalds, Prudential, State Farm Insurance Companies, Verizon, and the Walt Disney Company. To date, the key media partners for the 2009 ALMA Awards include People en Español, AOL Latino, and SíTV.

The show will tape on Thursday, September 17 at Royce Hall on the UCLA campus. The 2009 ALMA Awards will air Friday, September 18 at 8:00 p.m. EDT on ABC
To learn more about this year’s ALMA Awards, please visit http://www.almaawards.com/