Report: Miss America organizers routinely bash contestants in private emails

Dec. 22 (UPI) -- Internal emails leaked to the Huffington Post indicate the Miss America Organization's chief executive officer, board members and a pageant writer freely insult candidates and former titleholders behind their backs.

The correspondence suggested organizers of the annual event routinely make rude remarks about the contestants' appearance, intelligence and behavior, and refer to previous winners as "malcontents" and "has beens."

Press of Atlantic City reported the pageant's television producing partner Dick Clark Productions severed ties with the organization after the emails came to light.

"The Miss America Organization Board of Directors was notified about the concern of inappropriate language in email communications several months ago. Consequently, the organization's Board of Directors took the allegations of inappropriate comments very seriously and formed an investigative committee," a pageant spokesman told HuffPo.

"As a result of the investigation, the Board directed the organization terminate the relationship with most egregious author of inappropriate comments. In addition, the Board has started the process of instituting additional policies and procedures for communication," the representative continued. "The Board has full confidence in the Miss America Organization leadership team."

Lewis Friedman -- a pageant telecast writer quoted referring to former titleholders by a vulgar term in an email to Miss America Organization CEO Sam Haskell, who appeared to approve of the language -- didn't have too much to say when contacted by HuffPo.

"Before commenting to correct your information and provide context, I'll speak to my attorney as this matter is the subject of pending litigation," Friedman said without elaboration.

"Full confidence in a man who thinks it's 'perfect!' to call the women who are Miss Americas [expletive.] Never mind what he's repeatedly said about me," former Miss America Mallory Hagan tweeted in response to the organization's statement.

Broadcast journalist and warrior against sexual harassment Gretchen Carlson described herself as a "proud former Miss America and former member of the Board of the Miss America Organization," adding she is "shocked and deeply saddened by the disgusting statements" made in the emails.