Marc Anthony went back to his Salsa roots with his latest album -- but the singer-songwriter also returned with some words of advice for the Latino community concerning stereotypes in the media.
On Tuesday, the 44-year-old singer stopped by HuffPost Live to discuss his newly released album “Marc Anthony 3.0” (July 23) with host Marc Lamont Hill. During the interview the star discussed his 10 year hiatus from the genre, the racist remarks over his recent performance of “God Bless America,” and even his thoughts on the portrayal of Latinos in the media.
Adding to a viewer’s video question concerning any upcoming projects on film or television, Hill alluded to the “Devious Maids” stereotype controversy and asked the singer whether he believed there was “space to have a different kind of Latino representation."
“Is that the show with the fine maids?,” Anthony asked before answering the question.
“As far as people being in uproar, they don’t owe us anything. The industry doesn’t owe us anything, networks don’t owe us anything. You have a complaint? Educate yourself, take up writing, become a producer, direct it,” the salsa singer told HuffPost Live. “You know what I’m saying? Get up and do it -- write good material, produce good films. I’m not of the mind that we’re owed [anything] because ‘oh every Latino on TV is either criminal...then get up and do better.”
The singer added that he was “in the middle of considering” a role himself. With regards to what the Puerto Rican called the “absolutely vicious” racist backlash he received after singing “God Bless America” at the MLB All-Star game last week, Anthony admitted he wasn’t surprised.
"No it doesn’t shock me,” Anthony said after Hill asked him if the “anti-Latino language” used in the U.S. today was something he didn’t expect.
The Salsa star clarified once again that he was born and raised in New York and stressed that even if he had been born in Puerto Rico he would still be American because the Caribbean island is a U.S. territory.
Watch a clip of Marc discussing Latinos in the media above and the full segment below.