Univision Ex-Host Rodner Figueroa Apologizes to Michelle Obama for 'Planet of the Apes' Comment

Talk show host Rodner Figueroa has apologized for his offensive remarks pertaining to Michelle Obama.

The Emmy winner and fashion host released an apology letter insisting that his comments were misinterpreted following his termination from Univision. Figueroa's statement came about during a recent episode of "El Gordo y la Flaca," Fox News Latino reported.

At the time, the show was airing a segment about Filipino make-up artist and entertainer Paolo Ballesteros, who is currently making headlines on Instagram for transforming himself into famous celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, Cher, Ariana Grande, Jennifer Lopez, Julianne Moore, and the First Lady. During the live show, Figueroa commented that Obama "looks like she was from the cast of 'Planet of the Apes,'" the news outlet noted.

"I would like to clarify that I am not a racist and my comments were in no way directed toward you, but toward the characterization made by the makeup artist," the 42-year-old host said in Spanish, as reported and translated by Fox News Latino. "I am embarrassed, I ask for forgiveness, because there is no excuse for a professional like me to make comments like this that can be misinterpreted as offensive and racist during such a volatile time in our country."

Figueroa, however, thinks his termination from the TV network is unfair.

"I take responsibility for this error in judgment on my part, but I cannot accept being called a racist and fired like this, humiliated by Univision, after 17 years there," the television personality added. "I come from a bi-racial Latino family, with family members like my father, who are Afro-Latino. I am the first openly gay host on Spanish-language television and I have been an activist for causes to help minorities, who like me have been discriminated against."

Figueroa won a Daytime Emmy Award in 2014, according to the Associated Press. He has been with Univision as a fashion expert for 17 years and was a mainstay on "El Gordo y la Flaca" since 2000.

Univision confirmed Figueroa's firing on Thursday, describing the Venezuelan-American TV host's quips as "completely incomprehensible" and "in no way a reflection of the values and opinions of Univision," Fox News Latino quoted the network as saying.

The First Lady didn't publicly address the TV host's remarks, but Figueroa's representatives claim that no one from Univision complained about the episode, Daily Mail wrote. However, later that night after the show aired, "a Univision executive reportedly contacted the TV presenter and informed him that the first lady's office had made a complaint about the remark," the report added.