Entertainment

Dumping Donald Trump: Celebrity chef joins long list of partners cutting ties with tycoon

Celebrity chef Jose Andres is the latest business partner to cut ties with real estate mogul and former reality TV star Donald Trump over his comments about Mexican immigrants to the U.S. We look at some of the other people who have severed ties with "The Donald."

Chef Jose Andres pulls plan to open a flagship restaurant in Trump's new hotel

Another business partner has announced plans to ditch Donald Trump after the U.S. presidential hopeful made 'disparaging' remarks about Mexican immigrants in his kickoff speech for his bid for the Republican nomination. (Brendan McDermid/Reuters)

Real estate mogul and U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump prompted near-universal outrage when he said in his campaign kickoff speech that some Mexican immigrants to the U.S. bring drugs and crime with them and that some are rapists.

He has been widely criticized for his June 16 statement but has refused to apologize and, in fact, has reiterated his views. Several organizations and countries have re-examined or severed their relationships and business connections with Trump  — and their ranks are growing.


July 8

Celebrity chef Jose Andres is backing out of a plan to open a flagship restaurant in Donald Trump's new hotel under construction in Washington, D.C. Andres issued a statement Wednesday citing Trump's statements "disparaging immigrants" in his decision to cancel plans for an eatery at the Trump International Hotel. Andres is a Spanish immigrant and recently became a U.S. citizen.

Andres, who is a recently naturalized U.S. citizen of Spanish origin, said Trump's statements 'make it impossible for my company and I to move forward.' (Jacquelyn Martin/AP Photo)
Andres says Trump's statements "make it impossible for my company and I to move forward." Andres says more than half of his team and many of his guests are Hispanic.

July 7

In the wake of Macy's decision to stop carrying Trump menswear, clothing company PVH Corp. says it's winding down its licensing deal with Trump, which was scheduled to run through 2018.

The PGA of America says it is moving its Grand Slam of Golf from Trump's Los Angeles course. The PGA of America says the move was made by mutual agreement with Trump.


July 6

ESPN, a unit of Walt Disney Co., says it won't hold its ESPN Celebrity Golf Classic at Trump National Golf Club in Los Angeles.


July 4

Panama joins several other Latin American countries in dropping out of the Trump-owned Miss Universe pageant.

Miss Universe 2014, Paulina Vega of Colombia, called Trump's comments hurtful and unfair. (Guillermo Legaria/AFP/Getty Images)

July 3

NASCAR says it won't hold its season-ending awards ceremony at the Trump National Doral Miami.


July 2

New York City officials say they are reviewing the city's contracts with Trump in light of his comments.

Digital cable and satellite network Reelz says it will air the Miss USA pageant but says Trump won't make any money from the telecast.


July 1

Macy's says it will stop carrying an exclusive line of Trump menswear, including shirts and neckties.

Serta says it is winding down a licensing agreement for its Trump Home mattress collection and won't renew the deal when it expires at the end of 2015.

Rapper Flo Rida, scheduled to perform at the July 12 Miss USA pageant, drops out, meaning all of the announced performers have quit. Hosts and several judges also have backed out.


June 30

OraTV, a TV company backed by Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim, says it's ending a project it was developing with Trump.


June 29

NBC, a unit of Comcast's NBCUniversal, says it's ending its relationship with Trump and won't air the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants.

Mexican media giant Televisa also says it won't broadcast Miss Universe or work with Trump.


June 25

Univision says it won't air the Miss USA pageant and will cut all business ties with Trump, who owns the Miss Universe Organization. Trump says he won't allow anyone who works for Univision to use his golf course in Miami, and he later says he is suing Univision for $500 million US.

Polarizing but popular?

As much as the incendiary remarks made by "The Donald" have burned his business bridges, they may have also fired up his base of red-meat Republicans.

The 69-year-old former reality TV star is still getting strong support in conservative polls.

In fact, Trump has moved into second place, behind Jeb Bush, in the early decision states for the Republican presidential nomination, according to recent surveys.

"His numbers only appear to be going up," said former Republican strategist Roger Stone, now a Tea Party member who supports Trump.

"Donald Trump's sin is he said some comments that were politically incorrect. But politically incorrect is not the same thing as unpopular, depending on what segment of the population you're talking to."

With files from Matt Kwong and CBC News