Univision: Pulse show with re-enactments won’t change

Despite protests in Orlando, Univision won’t revise a report on the Pulse attack that features reenactments, the Spanish-language network said Friday.

The report will be shown at 7 tonight on “Crónicas De Sábado” (“Saturday Chronicles”), a news program. This weekend’s edition carries the title “Baño De Sangre,” or “Blood Bath.”

“It’s a journalistic project,” said Jose Zamora, a senior vice president with Univision. “People are upset by a promo. That promo doesn’t represent the entire program.”

Univision did take down the promo, but Zamora said, “The program will air as it is.”

Members of the local LGBT community have signed a petition decrying the program for portraying the June nightclub massacre in which 49 died.

Carlos Carbonell, co-convener of the LGBTQ+ Alliance in Orlando, tweeted: “Orlando is still healing, pull your incredibly insensitive re-enactment of the Pulse tragedy. Have a heart.” By email, he added: “Re-enactments are damaging to a community still healing, and they were clearly not produced with the intent to assist us in that journey.”

Orlando Torres, who hid inside a bathroom stall for hours during the attack, wept about the program. “Even if I don’t see this show, I have to hear from others who did. The damage is already done,” he said. “It’s awful what they are doing.”

In a statement, Barbara Poma, owner of Pulse, said: “This graphic reenactment of one of the most terrifying nights in modern American history does nothing but re-terrorize the victims, their loved ones and all who responded to help.”

Univision said in a statement: “Univision News has set out to create a report that is deeply respectful of the many people whose lives were impacted by this tragedy and, at the same time, is faithful to the facts underlying this horrible crime.”