J Balvin drops out of Miss USA performance amid Trump's comments about Mexicans

NEW YORK, June 25 (UPI) -- J Balvin decided to pull out of his scheduled performance at next month's Miss USA contest due to Donald Trump's comments about Mexican and Latinos.

The television broadcast, which is set to air July 12, was going to be the Colombian singer's first performance on national television but he did not feel comfortable with what Trump had to say when he announced he is running for president on June 16.

"But we're talking about our roots, our culture, our values, this isn't about being punitive, but about showing leadership through social responsibility. His comments weren't just about Mexicans, but about all Latins in general," Balvin told Billboard.

The real estate mogul, who owns the Miss USA pageants, made the controversial remarks during his speech as one of America's main issues.

"The U.S. has become a dumping ground for everybody else's problems. When Mexico sends its people, they're not sending their best. They're not sending you. They're sending people that have lots of problems, and they're bringing those problems with us. They're bringing drugs. They're bringing crime. They're rapists. And some, I assume, are good people," Trump said. "It's coming from more than Mexico, it's coming from all over South and Latin America, and it's coming probably -- probably --from the Middle East."

Balvin defended the Latin community and responded saying, "Mexico is a Latin powerhouse and Mexicans, they're known as hard workers. Here in the U.S., not everybody wants to do those kinds of jobs. I've lived. I know what it feels like and what they go through and how families suffer. A comment like that is powerful."

The organization has yet to comment on Balvin's decision to withdraw from the show.