NBC executives met this week to consider whether to let “Extra” host Mario Lopez go ahead and host the NBC show “Access Hollywood” in September because of his comments about transgender children, according to a source for Radar Online.
The source stated, “The execs at NBC held an emergency meeting yesterday to discuss Mario’s future with the show because they do not see how they can just let this fly.” Despite the fact that Lopez made a public apology for his comments, the source continued, “His apology really meant nothing at all. All it does is solidify that he was aware that his comments were transphobic and hurtful.” Another source differed from the first source, telling Radar Online that nothing has changed and Lopez will still go into production with Access Hollywood.
The brouhaha started when remarks Lopez made on the Candace Owens Show in June came to light. Owens asked him about a “new trend” in which Hollywood celebrities are “saying their child is picking their gender.” Lopez responded:
I am trying to understand it myself, and please don’t lump me into that whole [group]. I’m kind of blown away too. Look, I’m never one to tell anyone how to parent their kids obviously and I think if you come from a place of love, you really can’t go wrong but at the same time, my God, if you’re three years old and you’re saying you’re feeling a certain way or you think you’re a boy or a girl or whatever the case may be.
“Extra” released a statement reading, “While we have enjoyed a long relationship with Mario Lopez, who we know to be a caring person, the opinions he expressed in this interview do not reflect those of Extra. We wholeheartedly embrace our friends from the LGBTQ community and believe they need support and love. For more support on these issues you can go to GLAAD.org,” according to Deadline.
Lopez backed down, telling People magazine, “The comments I made were ignorant and insensitive, and I now have a deeper understanding of how hurtful they were. I have been and always will be an ardent supporter of the LGBTQ community, and I am going to use this opportunity to better educate myself. Moving forward I will be more informed and thoughtful.”
Lopez’s initial comments were defended by Piers Morgan, who responded to the Human Rights Campaign claiming Lopez’s “comments are dangerous to the safety and well-being of LGBTQ youth, especially trans children who deserve to be loved and accepted for who they are.” Morgan answered, “What nonsense. No 3-yr-old child can possibly self-determine their own gender or sexuality. Mario’s been shamefully bullied into apologizing for stating what every parent knows to be the truth. I’ve had 4 kids & they could barely determine what day it is at that age.” He followed later by stating, “You know I don’t think transgender people are nuts. I do, however, think it’s nuts to let a 3-yr-old make any life-altering decision about anything. They haven’t a clue.”
Others supported Lopez with an #IStandWithMario hashtag.