After Mexico announced its boycott of the Miss Universe pageant this year following a "racist" statement from its main organiser, US presidential aspirant Donald Trump, Macy's Inc also cut its business ties with the billionaire developer on Wednesday while New York City said it was reviewing its contracts with the tycoon because of his insulting comments directed at Mexicans.
During a TV speech last week when he announced his bid for the US presidency, Trump called Mexican immigrants criminals, rapists and drug dealers.
Calling Trump's remarks "disgusting and offensive," New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said the billionaire's comments "do not represent the values of inclusion and openness that define us as New Yorkers."
On Monday, Mexican media conglomerate Televisa, which sends Mexico's representative to the pageant, announced that it is dropping out of the annual beauty contest after Trump supposedly insulted Latin American migrants, particularly Mexicans.
Last week, the Spanish-language TV network Univision said it would not air the July 12 Miss Universe pageant because of what Trump said about Mexicans.
Trump reacted by filing a $500 million lawsuit on Tuesday against Univision as he accused the network of a "thinly veiled attempt" to stifle his freedom of speech in order to boost Democratic frontrunner Hilary Clinton. The network's principal owner, Haim Saban, is a Clinton fundraiser, according to Trump.
The mogul and "The Apprentice" star partially owns the Miss Universe Organization, which organises both the Miss Universe and Miss USA pageants every year.
Mexico's boycott is seen to affect the ratings of the annual pageant in the Latin American region, where beauty contests are very popular.
Former Miss Universe Lupita Jones, who is also part of the organisation that picks Mexico's representative to the annual pageant, likewise criticised Trump on Twitter for his "racist comments."
"As a Mexican I feel very offended and outraged, like everyone else—as Miss Universe, I think Donald Trump is harming the organisation," Jones said.
"It's a shame that because of his racist comments we lose what the contest has promoted and represented during so many years, which is an atmosphere of harmony and peace among nations," she added.
In a related development, NBC, which traditionally airs the Miss Universe and Miss America pageants every year, also earlier announced that it will no longer do so this year after Trump's tirades.
No cancellation for the annual pageant, which has yet to have a final date, has been announced so far.
