Soap opera star Osvaldo Rios has quit Sunday's Puerto Rican day parade over mounting controversy surrounding time he spent in jail for abusing his girlfriend. He said in a statement, "After discussing this issue with my wife, my children and Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, to whom I'm grateful for her wise words, my family and I have decided ... not to attend the parade and promote the unity and the consensus between the Puerto Rican people at such a great event." Rios marched in last years parade without controversy, even though he abused his girlfriend all the way back in 1996.
Brooklyn Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez told the Daily News, "It is the right thing to do. Now we can come together as a community and have a big celebration." Local lawmakers were divided over Rios' participation in the parade, with City Councilwoman Melissa Mark-Viverito leading a boycott and Bronx Rep. Jose Serrano saying he didn't support Rios but would continue to march for the community. Chicago Rep. Luis Gutierrez also backed out of the parade, and Verizon dropped their sponsorship. Rios said the "event should be one of unity, not of discord."
