FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 17, 2018
CONTACT: Clarissa Corona 213.718.0732 communications@nhmc.org
MOU Signed Between Lesly Kahn and the National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC) and National Latino Media Council (NLMC)
On February 25, 2018, an audio file was posted of acting coach Lesly Kahn asking a non-Latino student to pose as Latina as an experiment to get more acting jobs. In the audio Ms. Kahn told the actress to go so far as to change her name to Rosa Ramirez and get new headshots taken with dyed hair, a red dress, and sparkly earrings. The following statements were released to provide an update on events that have taken place since the occurrence. Alex Nogales, President and CEO of the National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC) had the following to say:"As you all know, in February, we commented on an audio file where Lesly Kahn made unfortunate statements about the Latino community that demonstrated a misunderstanding about the obstacles faced by Latino actors. We've now met three times with Lesly Kahn and she has expressed deep remorse for her words and has volunteered to create a substantive scholarship actor training program for Latino actors who wish to seek jobs and representation in film and television. It is lamentable when these things happen, but it also speaks volumes when the person who committed the infraction agrees to an MOU and creates a program to not only help right the wrong but be part of the solution to change an industry that is severely lacking Latino representation."
Thomas A. Saenz, Chair of the National Latino Media Coalition and President and General Counsel of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund had the following to say:
"Lesly Kahn has agreed to help solve the problem of Latino underrepresentation in movies and other media. That is a welcome development and a clear indication of the significance and urgency of the issue."
### The National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC) is the media watchdog for the Latino community, ensuring that we are fairly and consistently represented in news and entertainment and that our voices are heard over the airwaves and on the internet. We exist to challenge executives and influencers throughout the entertainment and news industry to eliminate barriers for Latinos to express themselves and be heard through every type of medium. NHMC works to bring decision-makers to the table to open new opportunities for Latinos to create, contribute and consume programming that is inclusive, free from bias and hate rhetoric, affordable and culturally relevant. Receive real-time updates on Facebook, Twitter @NHMC and Instagram @NHMC_org.
