The Miss USA Pageant has found a new broadcast home on television after being dumped by NBC. Reelz announced Thursday that it will air the event on July 12 from Baton Rogue, LA.
The statement from the network doesn’t mention Donald Trump by name:
“The decision on the part of Reelz to acquire the rights to the Miss USA Pageant was based on our belief that this special event, and the women who compete in it, are an integral part of American tradition,” Stan E. Hubbard, CEO of Reelz, said in a statement. “As one of only a few independent networks, we decided to exercise our own voice and committed ourselves to bringing this pageant to American viewers everywhere. For us, this decision is about the dreams of the contestants who come from all walks of life across the United States, the city of Baton Rouge that has proudly come together to host this pageant and the viewers who will be watching and celebrating its 54th year on television. The Miss USA Pageant is a perfect fit on Reelz where movies, entertainment and celebrity come together every day of the year.”
In other words, Reelz is coming to the rescue of the women competing in the pageant who were anticipating their 15 minutes of TV fame. Not that anyone actually watches Reelz–a channel many of us never heard of, despite being included in our cable package.
NBC severed ties with Donald Trump, a co-owner of the Miss Universe Pageant, after he made racist comments about Mexican immigrants, calling them criminals and “rapists.” Univision was the first partner to cut ties with Trump, who in turn filed a $500 million lawsuit against the network. Yesterday, retailer, Macy’s announced they would no longer carry his clothing line.
The remarks were made during Trump’s presidential campaign announcement.
Miss Universe needs new co-hosts, after dance pro, Cheryl Burke and MSNBC’s Thomas Roberts bowed out. So far, The Voice 7 winner, Craig Wayne Boyd is still on board to open the show. The date remains on his calendar.
UPDATE: Although the event still remains on his calendar, Craig Wayne Boyd has dropped out, as well as other the other performers, Flo Rida and Natalie La Rose. Celebrity judges Jonathan Scott, Terrence Jenkins, and former Miss Universe winner Zuleyka Rivera are out as judges. Only Jessie James Decker remains on the panel.
