Three Miss America Organization leaders resigned after emails were exposed that described contestants with vulgar, offensive language.
Dec. 23 (UPI) — Three Miss America Organization leaders resigned after emails were exposed that described contestants with vulgar, offensive language.
Executive Chairman and CEO Sam Haskell, President and COO Josh Randle and Chairman Lynn Weidner stepped down after the internal emails were published. Friday, Haskell was suspended from the organization pending the investigation.
A statement by interim chairman Dan Meyers on Saturday said the board of directors accepted Haskell’s resignation, effective immediately. The board also accepted resignations from Weidner and Randle, who will remain in their roles for several weeks to « facilitate a smooth transition. »
The MAO’s board said the emails, published in an exclusive report by The Huffington Post, were obtained illegally.
The report detailed nearly three years of email exchanges within the organization that contained disturbingly offensive emails about former Miss America winners, referencing their weight or private sex lives.
Haskell issued a statement about his suspension, apologizing for « a mistake of words » and said he was stressed from « a full year of attacks by two Miss Americas. »
The organization said they had been aware of the inappropriate language in the emails for several months but in Haskell’s defense said he « was under unreasonable distress resulting from intense attacks on his family from disgruntled stakeholders. »
The pageant’s television producing partner Dick Clark Productions severed ties with the organization after the emails came to light.
