The previous titleholder of Miss North Carolina USA, who had her crown revoked following the emergence of social media posts in which she used the N-word, has initiated legal proceedings against the organization.
Brittany Boltinhouse, aged 27, was crowned Miss North Carolina USA last month and was set to participate in the national Miss USA competition this week.
However, just a few days after her victory, the organizers announced that her title had been rescinded due to ‘recently surfaced information.’
Consequently, the crown was awarded to the runner-up, Myla Hadley, who will now represent North Carolina at the competition in Miami.
At that time, the organization did not disclose the nature of the resurfaced information, but chairman Thom Brodeur stated: “I want to address this matter directly, as our titleholders, state directors, supporters, and every young woman observing this situation deserves to understand my position.”
Brittany Boltinhouse was stripped of her title this month (Instagram/@espino.sosa)
The Miss USA Organisation has a strict policy against racism, homophobia, transphobia, and any language that undermines an individual’s dignity, regardless of their identity. This stance is not merely a statement for public relations purposes.
It represents the minimum standard expected of those who embody this brand. Holding a title is not a mere ornament; it is a position of trust granted by the organisation and accepted by a woman who commits to uphold its values in the public eye.
However, it was subsequently revealed that previous social media posts from Boltinhouse’s account contained multiple instances of her using the N-word.
When approached by the Daily Mail regarding whether she believed an apology for the tweets was warranted, she responded, “No. Not at all.”
She further stated that she would neither deny nor distance herself from those posts, but expressed her belief that the organisers did not strip her of her crown due to those comments.
On Sunday, August 23, Boltinhouse initiated a civil lawsuit in Duplin County Superior Court in North Carolina, alleging defamation against the organisation and several other parties, including pageant operators A Blaize Productions.
In the lawsuit, which was reviewed by the Daily Mail, Boltinhouse’s legal representatives do not dispute the organisation’s ‘legal authority’ to revoke her title.
Her title was removed after ‘recently surfaced information’ came to light (Instagram/@espino.sosa)
Instead, the lawsuit accuses the defendants of ‘maliciously coordinating to disseminate a false public narrative that depicts Brittany Boltinhouse as a racist, homophobe, transphobe, and an intolerable bigot, deserving to be ostracized from public life.’
In the legal filing, Boltinhouse admits that older social media posts, which included a racial slur, resurfaced following her victory, with several dating back to 2017 and 2019.
“At that time – and for almost ten years – these posts elicited no comments, objections, or public outcry,” the document asserts, subsequently blaming ‘online sleuths’ for bringing these posts to light after she secured the Miss North Carolina title.
The filing also mentions more recent social media activity, where she expressed support for Donald Trump and the Tate brothers, along with a post opposing Transgender Day of Visibility.
Boltinhouse is seeking financial compensation ‘in an amount to be determined by the jury.’
The organization maintains that the title was not revoked due to her ‘personal political or religious beliefs.’
A spokesperson from A Blaize Productions previously stated to the media: “Ms. Boltinhouse was not removed because of her political affiliation, religious beliefs, or the expression of those beliefs.”
The former Miss North Carolina has now filed a lawsuit (Instagram/@espino.sosa)
In a prior statement to the Daily Mail, the company remarked: “Contestants and titleholders are not restricted from holding or voicing personal political or religious beliefs.
“Our agreements, however, set forth standards concerning conduct, decorum, representations made to the organization, and the responsibilities tied to representing the Miss North Carolina USA title.
“After her crowning, previously undisclosed information and publicly accessible material were brought to our attention.
“The organization assessed that information, engaged in direct communication with Ms. Boltinhouse, and sought counsel from the national organization. The decision was ultimately made based on the overall circumstances, including conduct and materials that the organization deemed inconsistent with the standards and responsibilities associated with serving as Miss North Carolina USA.
“This was not a judgment regarding whether Ms. Boltinhouse had the right to hold specific political or religious beliefs. She was, and continues to be, entitled to those beliefs.
Featured Image Credit: Instagram/@espino.sosa