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Telemundo fires celebrity host María Celeste Arrarás, upset fans say they won't watch 'Al Rojo Vivo' anymore

Puerto Rican journalist María Celeste Arrarás and Cuban Rashel Diaz took to instagram on August 5 to post that they will no longer be part of their respective programs on Telemundo

María Celeste Arrarás, the longtime host of Telemundo network's afternoon magazine 'Al Rojo Vivo', and Rashel Díaz, co-host of the morning show 'Un Nuevo Día', are no longer with the company. Celebrated Puerto Rican journalist Arrarás took to Instagram on August 5 to post the news in a heart-wrenching message. The move comes as part of personnel cut measures announced by North American Spanish language channel Telemundo in wake of damages due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"Dear friends, with deep sadness, I want to inform you that yesterday was my last day with 'Al Rojo Vivo' and on the Telemundo screen. This morning I was informed by the company that they have decided that the program will take another course and that due to adjustments due to the pandemic I will no longer be part of the show," she wrote on her Instagram on August 5. 

The winner of three Emmy awards said she was grateful for the opportunity that the network gave her for almost 20 years. She concluded the message saying that her career does not end here and that her commitment will stay strong. "Neither my passion for work nor my career ends here. On the contrary, my commitment to you remains as strong as ever."

Arrarás landed in Telemundo in 2002 for Telemundo's 'Al Rojo Vivo' show. She was the host and managing editor of Al Rojo Vivo con María Celeste. Her program airs in the US and in 15 Latin American countries, and has a daily audience of 35 million viewers. Sources told Media Moves that Myrka Bárbara Dellanos, a Cuban-American journalist and show host, will host ARV for the next few weeks. This will be followed by a rotation of internal talent until Telemundo announces a permanent host.
 
But it seems like fans of Arrarás do not want to watch Al Rojo Vivo show without her hosting it. A fan tweeted, "IM NOT WATCHING AL ROJO VIVO ANYMORE!!! ARV AINT ARV WITHOUT MARIA CELESTE!!!!!!!." Another fan tweeted, "I don't care what anybody says. Al Rojo Vivo is not Al Rojo Vivo sin María Celeste #MariaCelesteArraras."

 
After Arrarás' Instagram post, people started to pour in love and wished the journalist best wishes for future endeavors. They called her a great example for others in the field. "My respects to you ... you are a great example for many of us. I applaud you and thank you for being one of the people who wrote to me a week ago," commented TV presenter and journalist Carolina Sandoval who was also laid off four days ago.

Arrarás' dismissal comes after other communicators like Ana Patricia Candiani and Martín Plascencia, who were the best-known faces of Telemundo in Los Angeles, were also fired. Rashel Díaz too announced her departure after María Celeste was fired from 'Un Nuevo Día' and Telemundo. She took to Instagram to write, "This message is to confirm that it is true what you have seen published, today was my last day in 'Un Nuevo Día'," Díaz’s message began with a photo in which she is seen smiling in a sexy low cut black dress.

Her post was also met with loving reactions where she was called a "warrior of God".  She is an actress and manager known for 'En vivo y directo' (2005), 'Telemundo: Un nuevo Dia' (2012) and 'Levántate' (2010).

The news came as a shocker for admirers. Many of them even lashed out at Telemundo which is owned by NBC Universal Telemundo Enterprises, a unit of NBC Universal Television and Streaming. Talk show host Alberto Cutié tweeted on what appears to him as "not justified" action. "Telemundo @Telemundo has always been a disaster. They build up talent and brands and then they get rid of them. So so sad! @MARIACELESTFANS @MariaCeleste is an amazing talent. #COVID19 does not justify this action."

Some fans are still reeling from the news of her dismissal. "HOLD ON, they fired MARIA CELESTE??!??!? WHAT IS GOING ON," tweeted a fan in shock. Another tweeted, "So you telling me Maria Celeste not gonna b on al rojo vivo no more”. Fans said that they are going to deeply miss Arrarás. A fan tweeted, "My grandma is going to be so sad, she is her favorite Telemundo journalist."

Others too deeply mourned the layoff. One tweeted, "Is your family crying about Maria Celeste leaving telemundo or are you normal?"

Arrarás signed a multiyear contract with Telemundo in 2016. Her final show was on August 4 and she was notified about her lay off on August 5. Telemundo issued the following statement regarding her departure as mentioned in Media Moves. "Maria Celeste has been an icon and an integral part of Telemundo's growth to become a leading Spanish-language network. She is an accomplished award-winning journalist with a relentless passion and commitment to serve our communities and we are extremely grateful for her unwavering dedication and contributions to Hispanics and Telemundo's success all these years."