The board of Goya Foods has voted to muzzle its co-owner and CEO
Robert Unanue from speaking publicly after the Trump-supporting
chief executive questioned the results of the presidential election
during a recent media appearance,
the New York Post reported.
What are the details?
Last Friday, the nine-member board of the Hispanic foods giant
voted by majority to censure Unanue over controversial remarks he
made to the media following the Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol,
including an appearance on Fox Business Network last week during
which he called the election of President Joe Biden
“unverified.”
“I think this is mission accomplished. Mission accomplished by
the union, the partnership, the conglomerate of social media, Big
Tech, big media, and government, big government, for ushering in
the dawn of a new world order — this great reset — with an
unverified election, and the big prize is the United States,”
Unanue told
Fox Business’ Maria Bartiromo on Jan. 20.
Those comments were reportedly the tipping point for board
members, who initiated the censure vote two days later. The vote by
majority to silence Unanue means he will no longer be able to speak
to the media without the board’s permission, the Post noted.
“Bob does not speak for Goya Foods when he speaks on TV,” Goya
board member and third-generation owner Andy Unanue told the news
outlet ahead of the vote. “The family has diverse views on
politics, but politics is not part of our business. Our political
point of views are irrelevant.”
An anonymous source
speaking to CNN about the matter referred to the censure as a
“full stop” on Robert Unanue speaking to the media and added that
“his statements are insulting and dangerous.”
What’s the background?
Unanue, 67, rose to fame in conservative circles last year after
he spoke out in support of then-President Trump at a White House
roundtable event promoting the Hispanic Prosperity Initiative, an
executive order signed by Trump intended to improve educational and
economic opportunities for Hispanic Americans.
“We’re all truly blessed at the same time to have a leader like
President Trump, who is a builder,” he said during the event.
The comments immediately triggered a
boycott movement of Goya Foods led by progressive politicians
such as Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. In response,
conservatives rallied to buy Goya products.
What else?
Unanue confirmed his censure to the Post but refused to comment
on it directly. Instead, he acknowledged that moving forward he
would refrain from making his political views public.
“Independently, I’ve made the decision to lower the temperature
and walk away from speaking about politics and religion,” he said.
“I realize it’s important because of the diverse views of the
company and our market.”
“I don’t believe I should speak politically or in a faith-based
manner on behalf of the company,” he added. “But I leave open the
possibility of speaking on behalf of myself.”
