Miss North Carolina USA sues pageant after losing crown over alleged racist remarks

Former Miss North Carolina USA 2026, Brittany Boltinhouse, has taken legal action against the pageant organization, filing a civil defamation lawsuit. Boltinhouse alleges that she was publicly branded as racist, homophobic, and transphobic as a pretext to strip her of her title.

“

The organization does not tolerate racism, homophobia, transphobia, or language that strips any person of their dignity.

The lawsuit, filed on August 23 in the Superior Court of Duplin County, North Carolina, names Thom Brodeur, CEO of Miss USA and Miss Teen USA, and A-Blaize Productions, the entity responsible for the state pageant, as defendants. Boltinhouse was crowned in late June and dethroned on August 5, with Miss USA announcing the decision via Instagram. Brodeur stated the organization "does not tolerate racism, homophobia, transphobia, or language that strips any person of their dignity," but did not specify the exact conduct that led to the dethronement.

Boltinhous's legal team does not dispute the pageant's authority to remove her title. Instead, the core of her claim lies in the subsequent public statements. The lawsuit acknowledges that old social media posts from Boltinhouse, including six messages between 2017 and 2019 where she used an offensive racial slur, resurfaced after her victory. Posts referencing Donald Trump, Charlie Kirk, the Tate brothers, and the 2024 Transgender Day of Visibility also reappeared.

“

falsely portray and defame

Her representatives argue that this past history was used to "falsely portray and defame" Boltinhouse. A key point of contention is a statement the organizers allegedly wanted her to sign, which included: "Over the past few days, I have been forced to confront parts of my past that I am not proud of." Boltinhouse contends that public references implied she had accepted this statement.

“

Over the past few days, I have been forced to confront parts of my past that I am not proud of.

Transcripts of calls with pageant officials are included in the case. Nic Blaize, a co-state director, reportedly told Boltinhouse, "Brittany, you are being dethroned, or have been dethroned, due to the totality of each of the things as a whole." In another conversation, he stated, "We were told we had to make a statement." A-Blaize Productions has denied that the dethronement was based on Boltinhouse's political or religious beliefs, asserting that the decision followed a "thorough review of the totality of information that came to our attention, including previously undisclosed conduct and public content from several years that was inconsistent with the standards expected."

“

Brittany, you are being dethroned, or have been dethroned, due to the totality of each of the things as a whole.