Brittany Boltinhouse, the former Miss North Carolina USA, has stated she has no regrets about past social media posts in which she used the N-word, asserting that her title was revoked due to her political and religious beliefs rather than the resurfaced remarks.
Boltinhouse, 27, was stripped of her title last week, just weeks after winning, with organizers citing "recently surfaced information." The runner-up, Myla Hadley, has since taken over the Miss North Carolina USA crown and is expected to compete in the national Miss USA pageant on August 27.
While the Miss USA organization did not explicitly detail the information that led to the revocation, a screenshot circulated on social media platforms, purportedly from an account belonging to Boltinhouse, contained references to the N-word from 2017 and 2019. Addressing the controversy in an interview with the Daily Mail, Boltinhouse stated, "No. Not at all" when asked if she felt she should apologize for her past language.
Boltinhouse described herself as a "proud conservative" and "God-fearing" woman. She alleges that her title was removed because of her "political and religious stance" and claims her rights were violated. She intends to legally challenge the decision, stating, "They defined a narrative of me, and I'm here to redefine that now."
Thom Brodeur, chairman of Miss USA, stated that the organization "does not tolerate racism, homophobia, transphobia nor language that strips any person of their dignity." He indicated the decision was based on "conduct over an extended period of time," rather than a single incident.
Boltinhouse claims to possess "audio recordings" that support her assertion that she was ousted due to her conservative political views. Her lawyer, Patrick Mincey, told the Daily Mail that they believe Boltinhouse has been "defamed" and that accusations of racism, homophobia, and transphobia leveled against her are "false slanders and slurs." Mincey added that the posts in question are "not racist or evidence of racism" and that the recordings will demonstrate the true reasons for her disqualification.
Blaize Productions, the executive producer and state license holder for the Miss North Carolina USA pageants, stated that Boltinhouse "was not removed because of her political affiliation, religious beliefs or the exercise of those beliefs." The company noted that while contestants are free to hold personal beliefs, their agreements establish standards for conduct and representation associated with the title. Blaize Productions indicated that "previously undisclosed information and publicly available material" were brought to their attention after Boltinhouse's crowning, and the decision was based on the "totality of the circumstances, including conduct and material that the organization determined was inconsistent with the standards and responsibilities associated with serving as Miss North Carolina USA."
According to Blaize Productions, Boltinhouse was "repeatedly informed of the factors that led to the organization's decision," and the distinction was made between her personal beliefs and the conduct that raised concerns. The company stated it would be inappropriate to litigate the details through the media due to pending litigation but affirmed they stand by their process and decision.
Boltinhouse stated she is "very much at peace" with the situation and hopes to serve as an example to prevent others from facing similar treatment. She is seeking "justice" and does not wish to reclaim her crown, emphasizing her belief that the process was unfair. She added, "If it's between my principles and this crown, I'll choose my principles all day, and I stand by that."