Miss America Organization president resigns amid scandal: report
Josh Randle, the COO and president of the Miss America Organization, has reportedly resigned amid an email scandal.
Randle submitted his resignation less than 48 hours after CEO Sam Haskell was suspended for writing crude and sexist emails about the pageant’s contestants, a source close to the matter told The Huffington Post on Saturday.
Fellow board member Tammy Haddad also resigned in the wake of the scandal.
Miss America announced on Friday that they would suspend Haskell pending an investigation into the emails where he joked about contestant’s being “c--ts” and called women “huge” and “gross.”
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“Mr. Haskell, in support of the organization, has agreed to abide by the Board's decision. The Board will be conducting an in-depth investigation into alleged inappropriate communications and the nature in which they were obtained. In addition, the Board wishes to reaffirm our commitment to the education and empowerment of young women, supporting them in every way possible,” the organization said in a statement Friday.
Dick Clark Productions, which puts on the show annually, cut ties with the pageant after Haskell’s emails came to light, calling them “appalling.”
Haskell is one of seven men on the 16-member board — and holds the highest ranking roll, raking in $500,000 per year.
He declared on Friday that he accepted the suspension, but would not be resigning, calling his actions a “mistake of words.”
“Those who know my heart know that this is not indicative of my character, nor is it indicative of my business acumen,” Haskell said. “I was under stress from a full year of attacks by two Miss Americas, and while I don't ever want to offer an excuse, I do want to offer context.”
“I have the utmost respect for the women of this program and contestants at every level,” he continued. “It breaks my heart for anyone to think otherwise.”
In the wake of the scandal, at least 49 former Miss Americas called for the organizations leaders to resign.
The Miss America Organization did not immediately return a Daily News request for comment.
