Miss America CEO Sam Haskell Slut-Shamed Contestants, Leaked Emails Show

The CEO of the Miss America Organization, Sam Haskell, was regularly involved in exchanging emails where he used coarse language to describe the participants, slut-shaming them in the process, according to leaked internal emails.

According to a report by Huffpost, which published the emails Thursday, Haskell, after being at the helm of the organization for nine years, participated in the exchange of the expletive-ridden emails.

In one of the emails sent to the lead writer of the Miss America pageant telecast, Lewis Friedman, in August 2014, Haskell talked about an alteration he wanted to make in the script.

Haskell wrote that he along with a colleague named Sharon decided to refer the previous winners of the competition as “Former Miss Americas” instead of “Forever Miss Americas.”

In a reply, Friedman wrote, “I’d already changed ‘Forevers’ to ‘Cunts.’ Does that work for you [Haskell]?”

Haskell in a short reply stated, “Perfect…bahahaha.”

The report further stated that Friedman regularly sent offensive and sexist messages to Haskell, who responded to by indicating he thought Friedman’s messages were quite funny. Two others with whom Haskell exchanged such emails were Tammy Haddad, a media consultant and D.C. power connector; and Lynn Weidner, a Las Vegas socialite.

In May 2014, Haskell reportedly forwarded one of Haddad’s emails to an executive who worked for Miss America. In the email, Haddad described some of the former Miss Americas as a “pile of malcontents and has beens who blame the program for not getting them where they think they can go.”

Haddad also wrote, “80% of the winners do not have the class, smarts and model for success.”

Haddad, in the email, advised Haskell not to get provoked by the former Miss Americas. She said, “YOU [Haskell] have to let them go. You don’t need them. They need you. We also have to punish them when they don’t appreciate what we do for them.”

Haskell replied to this email saying the advice was wise.

Haskell, at times, directed his insults towards Kate Shindle, who was crowned Miss America in 1998. In Dec. 2014, Friedman sent an email to Haskell with a subject line which read, “It should have been Kate Shindle.”

Friedman reportedly offered condolences on the death of a former Miss America, Mary Ann Mobley, by writing, “So sorry to hear about Mary Ann Mobley.” In a reply, Haskell said, “Thanks so much Coach...even in my sadness you can make me laugh...how was the Kennedy Center Honors? Love you and appreciate you! Sam.”

Shindle, in 2014, published a book in which she posed a question to Miss America’s board on their decision to pay Haskell $500,000 as consultation fees, when the company itself was running in debt of $400,000. Both Haskell and Haddad detested 1989 Miss America Gretchen Carlson, who was also a member of the company’s board of directors. According to three anonymous sources, one of the reasons for disliking Carlson was that she was trying to modernize the organization and refused to attack former winners of the competition, Huffpost reported.

Haskell also reportedly told Carlson not to invite 2013 Miss America, Mallory Hagan, on her program but Carlson refused to abide by Haskell.

On Aug. 15, 2014, Weidner sent an email to a group of previous winners of the competition, which included Carlson. In the email with regards to Shindle’s book, she wrote, “Is it possible for each of you to speak out in defense of Sam and the organization?”

In a reply Carlson said, “It’s one thing to talk about your own personal experience as Miss America … but totally different to attack people individually.”

Haskell forwarded Carlson’s reply to Haddad. Haddad then replied to Haskell saying, “Snake but now u have not doubts as to her loyalty. Makes it easy not to respond. Right?”

The report stated that, just prior to the time when Shindle’s book was launched, Haddad had emailed Haskell saying, “Why don’t u read susan POWELL’s [former Miss America] email on the board call and say it’s a shame that only one miss America who has come forward to offer help in any way.” Haddad was referring to Powell’s previous email where she supported Haskell.

Haskell replied to Haddad saying, “Brilliant…..f------ Brilliant!!!! That will drive Gretchen [Carlson] INF------SANE.”

After this email, Carlson was not featured in the broadcast of the next Miss America show by Haskell. Carlson later resigned from the board. According to the report, Haskell also fat-shamed Hagan in 2013 after a bikini photo of the former Miss America surfaced.

In Aug. 2014, Haskell received an email from an acquaintance which stated that Hagan’s hairdresser in New York was making comments on Hagan’s sex life and weight gain. Haskell forwarded that email to Friedman saying, ““Not a single day passes that I am not told some horrible story about Mallory [Hagan].”

Friedman replied, “Mallory’s preparing for her new career … as a blimp in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade As she continues to destroy her own credibility, her voice will attract less and less notice while she continues her descent to an unhappy pathetic footnote.”

He also added a footnote saying, “Ps. Are we four the only ones not to have f----- Mallory?”

Haskell replied, “It appears we are the only ones!”

The author of the Huffpost report, Yashar Ali, posted a tweet with a statement from Carlson.

Ali also posted a tweet from a production company who apparently got hold of similar emails.