Amidst widespread public backlash for his racist comments on Mexican immigrants, Donald Trump has found an obscure ally. Reelz, an alleged cable network that most notably airs reruns of 3rd Rock from the Sun and Cheers, has agreed to step up and air Trump's Miss USA pageant. CNNpoints out that the network is available in 67 million of 100 million homes with cable but is difficult to find.
Reelz CEO Stan E. Hubbard said in a statement:
The decision on the part of Reelz to acquire the rights to the Miss USA pageant was based on our belief that this special event, and the women who compete in it, are an integral part of American tradition. As one of only a few independent networks, we decided to exercise our own voice and committed ourselves to bringing this pageant to American viewers everywhere.
Hubbard made no mention of Trump's shameless racism, which is even more of an American tradition than the Miss USA pageant. Both Univision and NBC dropped Trump after he said at his 2016 presidential campaign announcement Mexicans are "bringing drugs, they’re bringing crime, they’re rapists, and some, I assume, are good people." Macy's also cut ties with the orange blowhard yesterday, prompting him to start a Twitter rant that's bled into today.
Update 7/2/15 (2:02 p.m.): Donald Trump is set to lose money on the Miss USA pageant. TMZ reports Reelz is paying "way less" for the rights to the show than it costs to produce.
Update 7/2/15 (3:54 p.m.): The Wrap is now reporting Reelz paid "no more than $100,000" to license the Miss USA pageant. To put things in perspective, last year's winner received a scholarship for one year at the New York Film Academy (worth $30,000 to $38,000, depending on the major) and a rent-free apartment in New York City until the next winner is crowned. The average rent within 10 miles of New York City is $3,432 per month, according to Rent Jungle.
