Donald Trump, the GOP presidential front-runner and former owner of the Miss Universe Organization, and Univision said today they have settled their lawsuit arising from Univision’s decision not to broadcast the Miss Universe and Miss USA pageants. Terms of the settlement are confidential.
“I have known Univision’s President and CEO, Randy Falco, for more than 20 years and I’m glad we are able to put these differences behind us,” Trump said in a statement. Said Univision CEO Randy Falco: “I have known Donald Trump for many years in both a personal and professional capacity and we are pleased to settle this matter and move forward.”
Today’s announcement comes as the two sides were scheduled to be in court for a hearing on Univision’s motion to dismiss Trump’s first amended complaint. Perhaps telling of what went down today, yesterday, Univision’s lawyers at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher asked for the hearing to be postponed three weeks.
Although Trump doesn’t own the Miss Universe Organization anymore, he and Univision continued to fight over the broadcaster dropping the pageants in late June over comments the billionaire made about immigrants being “rapists” and criminals. Univision soon after announced it was dropping the broadcasts and Trump sued for $500 million citing breach of contract and defamation.
A frequent presence on NBC shows and channels including hosting Saturday Night Live, Trump said in September he settled all lawsuits against Comcast-owned NBC and bought a 51% stake in the pageant. Those deals apparently did not include Univision — nor Trump dragging NBC’s name back into the matter. In an amended complaint filed November 6, Trump alleged that NBC was colluding with Univision over both dumping the show.
On September 14, WME | IMG picked up The Miss Universe Organization, which includes Miss Universe pageant plus Miss USA and Miss Teen USA. The Miss Universe pageant aired on Fox in December with emcee Steve Harvey, who inadvertently announced the wrong winner.
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