Miss America CEO Resigns Amid Email Scandal

Miss America CEO Resigns Amid Email Scandal. The CEO of the Miss America Organisation Sam Haskell has resigned. COO Josh Randle and board chair Lynn Weidner also resigned. The resignations happened because of internal emails which were published by the Huffington Post. The emails shows Haskell using offensive language to describe the Miss America contestants.

In one note he described 2013 Miss America, Mallory Hagan as ‘fat and gross’

Leadership fat-shamed contestants:

In one note he described 2013 Miss America, Mallory Hagan as ‘fat and gross.’ In another note he received an email that said Hagan’s hairdresser had been commenting on Hagan’s sex life as well as her recent weight gain. He then forwarded the email to lead writer Lewis Friednman, saying “ Not a single day passes that I am not told some horrible story about Mallory.”

Friedman replied, “Mallory’s preparing for her new career … as a blimp in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. As she continues to destroy her own credibility, her voice will attract less and less notice while she continues her descent to an unhappy pathetic footnote.”

In a statement released on Friday, Haskell said that much of what is reported is dishonest, deceptive and despicable. "The material is based on private emails that were stolen three years ago by ex-employees. The story is so unkind and untrue, and hurts me, my family, and the stewardship of this non-profit."

Miss Americas band together and demand resignation:

After this statement, dozens of former Miss Americas signed a petition asking for the company’s leadership to step down. The petition called the emails despicable. Then his colleague Josh Randle owned up to his comments. He said that his remarks on Hagan’s physical appearance happened months before he started working for the organisation. He still apologised.

“I apologize to Mallory for my lapse in judgment,” Randle said. “It does not reflect my values or the values I worked to promote at the Miss America Organization

“I apologize to Mallory for my lapse in judgment,” Randle said. “It does not reflect my values or the values I worked to promote at the Miss America Organization. Although this terrible situation was not caused or driven by me, in light of recent events and new developments, I am no longer willing to continue in my capacity as president and earlier today offered my resignation to the MAO Board of Directors

“I feel terrible, but this is the right thing to do,” he said.

The incident shows the pervasive nature of harassment at companies with men in their leadership. It also is a great example of how women can come together, and fight for change.

Statement from @GretchenCarlson and @kateshindle regarding @MissAmericaOrg pic.twitter.com/964UteeHsI

— Gretchen Carlson (@GretchenCarlson) December 23, 2017

Also Read: In A First, Woman With Down’s Syndrome Takes Part In US Pageant