The Miss USA pageant will be broadcast by Reelz after Univision and NBC abandoned it following Donald Trump's negative remarks on Mexican immigrants.
- Jul 2, 2015
AceShowbiz - Miss USA pageant is rescued by Reelz. The annual beauty competition which is held by Miss Universe organization partly owned by Donald Trump was previously dropped by Univision and then NBC after the real estate tycoon made derogatory comments about Mexican immigrants.
"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," says Reelz's CEO Stan E. Hubbard 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," the executive continues without mentioning Trump or the controversy surrounding his anti-immigrant remarks.
Miss USA will air live from Baton Rouge, Los Angeles on July 12 through the TV network which reaches around 70 million homes in the U.S. "The sash has been saved!" tweeted one of the 51 contestants, Miss Washington USA 2015 Kenzi Novell after the new deal with Reelz was announced.
Rapper Flo Rida, "The Voice" winner Craig Wayne Boyd, singer Natalie La Rose, and reggaeton artist J. Balvin were originally set to perform at the event, but they all reportedly have pulled the plug on their performance. Cheryl Burke also pulled out of the contest as a host but co-host Jeannie Mai will not abandon her duties.
The competition apparently lost most of the judges as well. Football star Emmitt Smith, TV personality Jonathan Scott, E! News anchor Terrence Jenkins, and former Miss Universe winner Zuleyka Rivera are reportedly no longer listed as judges on the Miss USA website. The only one remaining on the website is country crooner Jessie James Decker.
