Uncrowning of Miss North Carolina USA sparks defamation suit, alleging pageant cover

Uncrowning of Miss North Carolina USA sparks defamation suit, alleging pageant cover-up The former 2026 Miss North Carolina USA is suing the Miss USA organization for defamation after she was stripped of her title, allegedly because of her social media posts. Brittany Alondra Boltinhouse’s lawsuit names A Blaize Productions—the producers of the pageant—and Thom Brodeur, the president of Miss USA, who “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,” according to her suit and coverage by Courthouse News Service. Boltinhouse, crowned Miss North Carolina USA in June, alleged that she was dethroned in early August because of her conservative political and religious beliefs—including her social media posts objecting to a National Transgender Day of Visibility, supporting slain right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, and backing President Donald Trump before the 2024 election. The Miss North Carolina USA title went to the runner-up. Boltinhouse seeks punitive damages, along with special and consequential damages because of the loss of the title, the loss of the ability to participate in the 2026 Miss USA competition, and missed sponsorship and endorsement opportunities. Comments were not obtained from A Blaize Productions or Miss USA. Write a letter to the editor, share a story tip or update, or report an error.