Lawsuit Filed on Eve of Miss USA
Brittany Boltinhouse, who was stripped of her Miss North Carolina USA title, has filed a defamation lawsuit against pageant organizers. The suit, filed on Sunday in Duplin County Superior Court, names A-Blaize Productions, Miss USA president Thom Brodeur, and JKN Universe as defendants. It accuses them of defamation and civil conspiracy, alleging they coordinated to publish a false narrative portraying her as a racist and bigot.[S1][S2]
A defamation lawsuit was submitted right before the Miss USA event started in Miami, Florida, on Monday. Brittany Boltinhouse, aged 27, lost her Miss North Carolina USA title on August 5, just five weeks after her victory. This removal came after social media posts from 2017-2019 surfaced, containing the N-word. However, Boltinhouse's legal team contends that these posts were merely an excuse to remove her title after her win, as her heritage is Hispanic.[S1]
Allegations of Cover-Up and False Confession
Patrick M. Mincey, Boltinhouse's lawyer, revealed that the evidence will demonstrate how the defendants tried to force a false admission from her. The legal action alleges that organizers pressured her to sign a pre-written statement, which she declined. This statement contained an apology for previous social media posts, but Boltinhouse did not agree to it.[S1][S2]
Brittany Boltinhouse's lawsuit claims her removal as Miss North Carolina USA was due to her Christian values. She attended Trump's speech on January 6, 2021, supported the Tates, and opposed Biden's transgender proclamation. Her legal team argues that these actions were twisted to falsely brand her as intolerant.[S1]
Pageant Organizers Respond
A-Blaize Productions initially claimed that Brittany Boltinhouse's dethronement was not due to her personal beliefs. They stated that the decision was made after considering all available information, including undisclosed behavior and public material from several years that did not align with the expected standards for a titleholder. The spokesperson highlighted the organization's diversity, with members from diverse backgrounds and perspectives.[S1]
In a recorded call from August 5, pageant co-director Nic Blaize told Boltinhouse she was being dethroned because of the totality of everything. He also mentioned that the national office had instructed them to make a statement. Boltinhouse is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, and Myla Hadley has assumed her crown.[S1][S2]
