Former Miss NC USA: Sues Pageant for Defamation

The former 2026 Miss North Carolina USA said she lost the crown because of political posts on social media. (lorilynnoliver/Pixabay via Courthouse News) GOLDSBORO, N.C. (CN) — The former 2026 Miss North Carolina USA is lashing back at the Miss USA organization after she was dethroned over social media posts. Brittany Alondra Boltinhouse won the title of Miss North Carolina USA in June, but was removed from the competition in early August after Miss USA President and CEO Thom Brodeur announced she was being stripped of her title. The title went to the runner-up. The removal came after coordination with Boltinhouse and state directors and in consultation with the Miss USA organization, Brodeur said in a statement . He added the title is a “position of trust” extended to a woman who is expected to abide by certain standards. “When that standard is broken, the title cannot continue as though nothing happened," Brodeur said, adding Boltinhouse “has been named, examined, and judged in public in a way that most of us would not survive, and she is still a human being with family, future, and life ahead of her that is longer than this part of her journey.” Boltinhouse sued JKN Universe LLC, which does business as Miss USA and Miss Universe, Brodeur, A Blaize Productions LLC — which handles the Miss North Carolina pageant — and Ariana Blaize and Nic Blaize, who serve as directors at Blaize Productions. The defendants defamed her, she says, and conspired together to deprive her of her rights. She claims she was dethroned because she is a conservative Christian. But she acknowledges that between 2017 and 2019 she used a racial slur on social media and had gotten in a fight as a teen while defending her sister, which she says she reported to A Blaize Productions as required by her contract. Boltinhouse had also made social media posts objecting to former President Joe Biden declaration of a National Transgender Day of Visibility, supporting Charlie Kirk, calling the Tate brothers’ mentality “essential,” attending Donald Trump’s speech ahead of the sacking of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and voicing support for Trump before the 2024 election. The defendants revoked her title because of her political and religious beliefs, she says in her suit, adding she was told by Nic Blaize that her win had been revoked because of “the totality of your posts.” Boltinhouse says Brodeur also falsely said he had read a statement written by Boltinhouse that included “ownership, accountability and apology,” when the statement was written without her input by A Blaize Productions. She added she did not approve, sign or publish it. “Defendant Brodeur falsely, maliciously, wantonly and recklessly stated and implied that Brittany was a racist, homophobe, transphobe and bigot who should be shunned from public life, and that those qualities are why she lost her Miss North Carolina title,” Boltinhouse says in the complaint, pointing towards Brodeur’s comment that she had been examined and judged. Brodeur also made comments in a pageant forum that she should look to Hobby Lobby and “Chik F La" for future brand collaborations, Boltinhouse says, because of her political and Christian values. The defendants lacked supporting evidence that she had done anything discriminatory, Boltinhouse says, adding she has not been provided written notice from A Blaize Productions detailing the basis for removing her Miss North Carolina title. A Blaize Productions revoked her title out of fear that not doing so would risk the company’s franchise status, she says. “Defendants acted with malice toward Brittany,” Boltinhouse says in the complaint. “Defendants’ personal ill will toward Brittany on account of her political and religious beliefs and their intent to protect their own institutional, commercial and reputational interests at Brittany’s expense, activated and incited their decision to prepare, coordinate, publish and amplify the false and defamatory statem