A television host, who compared Michelle Obama to the characters in the film "Planet of the Apes," has been fired from his job. Univision has reportedly received a complaint from the White House about their Emmy Award-winning television host Rodner Figueroa, who made the controversial remarks on-air Wednesday. Figueroa also issued an apology later.

"Michelle Obama looks like she's part of the cast of “Planet of the Apes,”” Figueroa said in a broadcast on Wednesday, according to NY Times. The comment was made while Figueroa and a lot of other hosts discussed a viral video where a makeup artist worked on making himself look like Obama and other celebrities. Figueroa made the comment during a live portion of “El Gordo y La Flaca” (“The Scoop and the Skinny”) when a photo of the first lady was shown on screen.

Lili Estefan and Raul de Molina, other hosts on the show, expressed their disbelief on Figueroa's comments. The hosts also responded by saying that they found Obama “attractive.” Figueroa responded by saying, “But it is true,” according to NY Times. The website spoke to Rosemary Mercedes, a Univision spokeswoman, who confirmed that Figueroa was “immediately terminated” after making the “Planet of Apes” remarks about the First Lady. The network found Figueroa's comments as “completely reprehensible” and in no way reflecting “Univision’s values or views.”

The presenter then wrote an open letter to Obama where he started by saying that he's "no racist" and comes from a “biracial Latino family with members like my father who are Afro-Latino." The apology letter, which was published in Spanish in The Huffington Post, also added that Figueroa voted for Barack Obama twice and considers him “a great man who respects minorities like me in this country.” He also added that there was “no excuse” to make a comment like that which could be considered “offensive or racist.” Figueroa offered his “sincere apologies” for the controversial comment and said that his words have been “misinterpreted.”

For any questions/comments on the article, you may contact the writer at: n.tewari@ibtimes.com.au

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