Former Miss North Carolina USA Sues Pageant Over Title Revocation

Former Miss North Carolina USA Brittany Boltinhouse filed a defamation suit in Duplin County Superior Court, claiming the Miss USA organization and state pageant producers falsely portrayed her as a racist, homophobe and transphobe. The complaint says the defendants coordinated a public narrative based on her social-media activity, which included support for President Trump and criticism of Biden’s Transgender Day of Visibility, and then asserted she had admitted to intolerant views.

"Defendants hid from the public the real reason they dethroned Brittany: she is a conservative Christian," the lawsuit states.

The suit seeks compensatory and punitive damages, alleging injury to her reputation and livelihood. It names Miss USA chairman and CEO Thom Brodeur, A Blaize Productions LLC and its officers Ariana and Nic Blaize as defendants.

Brodeur’s August 5 statement said the decision to remove Boltinhouse was based on “conduct over an extended period of time” and involved consultation with state directors and the national organization. He noted that Boltinhouse had issued an apology, though he said it could not reverse the outcome.

"Ms. Boltinhouse was repeatedly informed of the factors that led to the organization’s decision. During those communications, we expressly distinguished her personal political and religious beliefs from the conduct and material that were the subject of our concerns," A Blaize Productions said in an August 12 statement denying the allegations.

Boltinhouse told the Carolina Journal she believes the title was removed because of her political stance and conservative Christian faith, but said a confidentiality clause limits further comment. The lawsuit was filed less than three weeks before the national Miss USA competition scheduled for late August.