Mario Lopez is not losing his 'Access Hollywood' job after transgender remarks: source
Mario Lopez apologized for his transgender remarks — and that’s good enough for NBC. Yahoo has learned that he will not be fired from Access Hollywood despite reports to the contrary.
Lopez was recently hired to co-host the entertainment show, as well as its daytime counterpart Access Daily , but in the wake of his controversial comments — which he subsequently apologized for — reports have been circulating that he will be “fired” from the gig before he even makes his debut. We’re told that is untrue.
One report said that “emergency meetings” were held by NBC execs and Lopez is “facing possible termination” as the “network prides itself on equality and does not accept anti LGBTQ hate speech at all.”
However, a source familiar with the situation tells us that reports of Lopez being fired are “NOT true.” He “is set to begin production,” the insider adds.
Lopez’s debut is scheduled for Sept. 9. Hopping over to the show from newsmag rival Extra, he’s joining co-hosts Kit Hoover and Scott Evans and replacing Natalie Morales, who left in April.
The controversy stems from an interview on the Candace Owens Show last month during which he said it was “dangerous” for parents to support their transgender kids.
“If you come from a place of love, you really can’t go wrong,” he said. “But at the same time, my God, if you're 3 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, I just think it's dangerous as a parent to make this determination then, well, OK, then you’re going to be a boy or a girl, whatever the case may be ... It's sort of alarming and my gosh, I just think about the repercussions later on.”
Following the backlash, he issued an apology for his “ignorant and insensitive” remarks and said he came to understand “how hurtful they were.” He added that he would use the experience to “better educate” himself and be “more informed and thoughtful” in the future.
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