The controversy surrounding Mario Lopez continues.
As we reported, the Saved By The Bell actor apologized for his remarks on The Candace Owens Show — where he suggested it was “dangerous” for parents of children as young as three years old to definitively label their kids as transgender.
Related: Mario Lopez Was Assaulted At A Las Vegas Spa By A ‘Known Troublemaker’!
However… is the 45-year-old’s upcoming Access Hollywood gig in danger?? It depends who you ask…
On Thursday, a Radar Online source reportedly said the thespian’s new job is on the chopping block because of his polarizing opinions.
The insider reportedly divulged:
“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.”
Apparently, the entertainment journalists’ remarks made the network second guess their opinion of him.
“Mario’s comments are not an accurate representation of what the network stands for at all. The network prides itself on equality and do not accept anti LGBTQ hate speech at all.”
Additionally, Lopez’s apology may not be enough to secure employment.
“His apology really meant nothing at all… All it does is solidify that he was aware that his comments were transphobic and hurtful.”
Reportedly, Mario’s public relations team believe NBC is going to “make an example out of him,” and they’re “probably right,” adding:
“He lost a lot of fans from this and there is no way that he could ever really recover them back.”
However, a different source close to the situation said his job is NOT in jeopardy, as production will begin in the fall.
On Wednesday, Lopez did not appear on Extra — which instead featured GLAAD director Anthony Ramos and Dr. Johanna Olson Kennedy, a leading expert on transgender youth development at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
The show also released the following statement on the matter:
“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.”
Mario eventually returned to the celebrity news show on Thursday.
In a statement to People on Wednesday, he said:
“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 has three children with wife Courtney: Gia Francesca, eight, Dominic Luciano, five, and Santino Rafael, three weeks.
[Image via FayesVision/WENN.]
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