The top leadership of the Miss America Organization has resigned, sweeping out officials implicated in an email scandal that targeted past pageant winners for abuse based on their appearance, intellect and sex lives.
The top leadership of the Miss America Organization has resigned, sweeping out officials implicated in an email scandal that targeted past pageant winners for abuse based on their appearance, intellect and sex lives.
CEO Sam Haskell resigned from the Atlantic City, New Jersey-based organization on Saturday, a day after he was suspended by the board. Also on Saturday, President Josh Randle and Chairman Lynn Weidner also resigned.
Randle apologized to a former Miss America whose weight he ridiculed in an email exchange with other pageant officials.
He tells The Associated Press his inappropriate response to an email about the appearance of 2013 Miss America Mallory Hagan came several months before he worked at the organization.
But he nonetheless apologized to her on Saturday, saying the comment does not reflect his values or those of the organization.
Randle was one of three top Miss America officials to resign Saturday, along with CEO Sam Haskell and Chairman Lynn Weidner.
Hagan was among dozens of former Miss Americas who signed a petition calling on the group’s leadership to step down.
The organization announced the resignations a day after dozens of former Miss America signed a petition calling on the group’s leadership to step down.
The emails were leaked to the Huffington Post, which first reported on them Thursday. Haskell said he made «a mistake of words.»
Haskell’s resignation is effective immediately, while Randle and Weidner will remain for a few weeks to help with a leadership transition.
