Brittany Boltinhouse, the former Miss North Carolina USA, has stated she will not apologize for past social media posts containing the N-word, asserting that her religious and conservative beliefs were the actual reason she was stripped of her title. Boltinhouse, 27, plans to file a lawsuit against Blaize Productions, the organization that runs the Miss North Carolina USA pageant.
Boltinhouse claims that the decision to revoke her crown was based on her political and religious views, not on the content of her posts, which she acknowledges were made between 2017 and 2019. "I'm not going to deny them or run from them," she told the Daily Mail. "But they did not take my crown because of those posts. [It] was because of my political and religious stance."
She further stated that her rights were violated and that she intends to "redefine" the narrative surrounding her dethronement. When asked about issuing an apology, Boltinhouse responded, "No. Not at all."
Previously, Boltinhouse suggested her conservative Christian identity, including her membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, influenced the pageant organizers' decision. She expressed pride in her faith and conservative values, stating, "I think you have the right to be a conservative in this country. It’s a constitutional right."
A spokesperson for Blaize Productions denied Boltinhouse's claims, stating the decision was not based on her political or religious views. The organization said its decision followed a review of "previously undisclosed conduct and public content spanning multiple years that was inconsistent with the standards and responsibilities expected of a Miss North Carolina USA titleholder under the agreements governing the position."
Myla Hadley, the pageant's first runner-up, has inherited the Miss North Carolina USA crown and is set to represent the state at the Miss USA pageant in Miami, Florida, on August 24.