Former Miss North Carolina USA Plans Legal Action After Title Revocation
Brittany Boltinhouse, dethroned as Miss North Carolina USA, will pursue legal action, alleging discrimination based on her Christian faith and conservative views.
Former Miss North Carolina USA Brittany Boltinhouse is preparing to file a lawsuit after the state pageant organization removed her title weeks before the national Miss USA competition. Her attorney, Patrick Mincey, announced on Instagram that the case will address what he described as wrongful and unjustified removal because of her Christian faith and political beliefs.
Miss USA officials said the decision was based on "conduct over an extended period of time" that violated the organization’s policies against racism, homophobia and transphobia. The title was subsequently awarded to runner-up Myla Hadley.
"The Miss USA organization does not tolerate racism, homophobia, transphobia, nor language that strips any person of their dignity, whoever they are," said Thom Brodeur, chairman and CEO of Miss USA and Miss Teen USA.
A Blaize Productions, the company that runs the state pageant, said the revocation resulted from a thorough review of newly surfaced information and was intended to preserve the integrity of the Miss North Carolina USA title.
In a prior interview, Boltinhouse claimed the title was taken from her because of her "conservative Christian" beliefs and noted that a nondisclosure agreement limits what she can disclose. Mincey added that his firm is investigating the circumstances surrounding the decision.
The potential lawsuit could target either the national Miss USA organization or the state pageant organizer, though no formal filing has been reported.