Chairwoman: Miss America’s claims cost pageant $75,000
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Miss America chairwoman Gretchen Carlson has struck back against the reigning Miss America, saying Cara Mund’s allegations that Carlson and others bullied her have led to a loss of $75,000 in scholarship money for this year’s contestants.
In a Twitter post late on the night of August 19 whose authenticity was verified by the Miss America Organization, Carlson, the former Fox News host, wrote that she was “surprised and saddened beyond words” by Mund’s letter on Aug. 17 complaining of how she has been treated during her nearly one-year reign as Miss America.
In her letter addressed to former Miss Americas, Mund wrote that she has been bullied, manipulated and silenced by the pageant’s current top leadership, headed by Carlson and CEO Regina Hopper.
Both have denied bullying Mund and say they support her.
“Actions have consequences,” Carlson wrote, addressing herself directly to Mund. “Friday, as an organization, we learned that $75,000 in scholarships which would have been the first scholarship increase in years is no longer on the table as a direct result of the explosive allegations in your letter.”
“The impact won’t stop there,” Carlson continued. “We are already seeing a negative ripple effect across the entire organization, and I am so concerned that it will dilute the experience for the next woman selected to wear the crown.”
Carlson did not specify how the scholarship money was lost. She did not immediately respond to an email seeking further comment.
In a statement issued early on Aug. 20, the Miss America Organization said, “The $75,000 referenced was a new source of funding for scholarships. The scholarships to be awarded this year are consistent with those awarded in 2018.”
Karl Nilsson, a Miss America spokesman subsequently said, “The news is severely damaging the organization and is having an impact on securing future sponsorships.”