Emails show Miss America CEO mocked and shamed contestants
The
comments made by CEO Sam Haskell caused their television sponsor, Dick
Clark Productions, to cut ties with the nearly 100-year-old pageant.
The emails reportedly include vulgar references to past winners and comments about their sex lives.
Former contestants have criticised the "appalling" revelations.
"When
I first read the emails in the article, I wasn't shocked, but I was
validated," said Mallory Hagan, the 2013 winner who was mocked in some
of the emails.
"For the longest time, I've tried to explain to
people around me that this is happening or these things are being said,"
she told NBC.
The three years of emails were first revealed by the Huffington Post, but were confirmed by the production company that broadcasts the programme.
Dick Clark Productions said in a statement they had been made aware of the emails "several months ago".
"We
were appalled by their unacceptable content and insisted, in the
strongest possible terms, that the Miss America Organization (MAO) board
of directors conduct a comprehensive investigation and to take
appropriate action to address the situation," the production company
said.
"Shortly thereafter, we resigned our board positions and notified MAO that we were terminating our relationship with them."
Not a single girl in the #MissAmerica class of 2013 has a single negative thing to say about @ItsMalloryHagan ...we have a LOT of negative things to say about Sam Haskell though...🙃 ☕️🐸 🐍 #FireSamHaskell— Alyssa Murray (@AlyssaFromDE) December 22, 2017
In the emails, which have not been seen by the BBC, the CEO of the
nonprofit organisation apparently exchanged vulgar and defamatory
comments with a writer for the show.
The writer who has since been
fired once asked: "Are we four the only ones not to have (slept with)
Mallory", he said referring to the 2013 winner.
Mr Haskell replied: "It appears we are the only ones!"
Mr
Haskell also reportedly referred to former contestant Gretchen Carlson -
who also successfully sued Fox News head Roger Ailes for sexual
harassment - as "a snake".
"As a proud former Miss America & former member of Board, I’m deeply saddened by disgusting statements about women attributed to leadership of MAO. No woman should be demeaned with such vulgar slurs. As I’ve learned, harassment and shaming of women is never acceptable” https://t.co/4lCYl77OUN— Gretchen Carlson (@GretchenCarlson) December 22, 2017
In a statement to the BBC, the Miss America Organization said that Mr
Haskell, who earns $500,000 per year, was at the time "under
unreasonable distress resulting from intense attacks on his family from
disgruntled stakeholders".
"Although strictly intended for private
communication, these illegally procured emails contain inappropriate
language that is unbecoming at best and is not in any way, indicative of
the character or integrity of MAO or its representatives," the
statement continued.
They add that the board apologies for "any concerns or ill feelings this situation has caused".
BBC
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