Big Hollywood Exclusive: Miss California Speaks Out After Pageant Firing
by Carrie PrejeanLet me begin by saying I treasure the opportunity I’ve had to represent the great State of California, and I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to the thousands of Californians, and other Americans, I have met and who have stood with me through this controversial firestorm. One of the many enduring things about being Miss California USA was the opportunity to get to meet and know so many wonderful people. I would not be the strong, courageous woman I am today without your support, and prayers.
I would like to thank Mr. Donald Trump and his organization for his support and defending me through the most challenging time of my life. I am so grateful for him, and the opportunity I’ve had to get to know him. I admire, and respect him. I wish Tami Farrell the best; I know she will do a great job.
I hope Americans watching this story unfold, take away the most important lesson I have learned through all of this: nothing is more important than standing up for what you believe in, no matter what the cost may be. I’ve done my best under the difficult circumstances to handle the vicious attacks with integrity and show respect to others, even those who don’t agree with me.
I worked in good faith to meet my responsibilities as Miss California USA. I have met every scheduled appearance, and responsibility, as recently as May 31st. I have followed the proper protocol requested of me and haven’t made any appearances or speaking engagements without the consent or approval from the Miss California USA or Miss Universe Organizations. I have not signed with any book publisher or taken on any business proposals. As of today, June 11, 2009, I have done everything possible to honor my contract.
I am proud to be an American, and blessed to have had the opportunity to exercise my freedom of speech. I am excited and looking forward to where God leads me in the future. I know He has big plans for me. I am proud to be the strong woman God has molded me to be. I will always stand for the truth, respectfully, and never back down.
Thank you and God Bless,
Carrie Prejean
[Ed. Note: There's more on this evolving story here, here, and here.]






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843 Comments
We still love you Miss Prejean.
We're proud of you, Carrie. Keep speaking up for what's right!
Stay strong, Girl!!
we won't miss you at all. happy to see you go.
You're a great kid,I'm sure your parents are very proud of you. I hope one of my sons settles down with someone as intelligent and brave as you. One thing though,The Donald is a moron.
Way to go on staying true to what you believe. It takes a strong person not to cave to (un)popular sentiment. You are an inspiration to little girls everywhere.
Thanks for posting on bighollywood!
I'm slightly confused: if you did everything you could to honor your contract, then why did you get fired for supposedly not honoring your contract? Don't get me wrong, I support your position, but I don't understand exactly what's going on here, and would like to if possible. Was it an error that you got fired for breaking contract? Or was it an honest mistake on your part? Please explain the contradiction of what is in public knowledge if you can. Thanks.
Trump Enters. has some 'splainin to do. His organization still hasn't explained what "appearances" she failed to show up for and what "duties" she failed to execute.
C'mon Trump, we aren't stupid and we know that you wanted to distance your organization from her, all the while seeming like a good guy by supporting her. Everyone knows that if you want to get rid of one of your employees, just make it extremely difficult for them to meet their so-called obligations and "trump" up performance issues or otherwise, and you have your "valid" reason for firing.
A little bit classier than the gays who have been bashing her wouldn't you say?
They talk about equality and in the process are trying to take away other peoples rights to thought, speech, and beliefs. Scary times.
Carrie makes a great deal of sense to me and she is very attractive. I wish there were more people just like her.
She should not have any problems going places. I wish her all the best.
-Anon.
"Blessed are those who suffer for righteousness sake, for great is there reward in heaven." Jesus
Today's lynch mobs are of the loony left variety: "We're all for "free" speech unless we disagree with it." Better fire Obamessiah for sharing her opinion.
It's a sign of the times Carrie – only we who know and believe in God – know how it turns out in the end. You did not deny Him – but stood up and declared your belief. Bless you.
In these days of public bashing of Christians – removing symbols of the Bible from public buildings and places – leaders who proclaim "We are not a Christian country anymore". Again – history repeats itself. There are different ways of "feeding Christians to the lions" and Carrie has just experienced one of them.
There is more than just public unrest brewing (you know you can feel something terribly wrong you just can't put your finger on it) you better get you and your families in church and right with God. There's a a storm coming.
Bugger off Joe.
This sounds so fake.While I do not agree with your opinion on the gay marriage issue, Ido feel that it is your right to have. I appreciate your honesty. What I do not believe is that you have kept up your contractual obligations. Mr. Trump gave you a chance in the middle of this firestorm and it still didn't work. Your attitude on the Today show was something else as well. When Matt Lauer asked you if there were any other pictures you seemed very sarcastic in your answer. Is it ok for a 17 year old to pose topless? No it is not. Where were your parents? Good luck to you.
The Donald is a fake…publiclly supporting Carrie and then firing her after the publicity value ended- we have your back Carrie
Agreed JOe… we're still waiting for that bit of information from the organizers… Until they say otherwise, Miss Prejean is (IMO), still Miss California.
You just stated what you, Obama, and over 70% of the country believes and look what has happened. It is a sad time we live in. You are a class act, too bad liberals have such hatred.
The string of events following Ms. Prejean's opinion about marriage has given her more exposure than "what's her name?" the lady to whom Ms. Prejean was first runner up. I'm sure she has much better things to do now than play china doll at a bunch of lame events…
It's really sad when a group of people get upset because someone has an opinion they don't agree with. Sorry that the GLAD group doesn't agree with Carrie's position. I don't either, but I fully support her being able to have that opinion. The moron that asked her the question to be put with deserves to be fired. He put her on the spot, there was no possible answer she could have given that would not have elicited political backfires. She said she was against gay marriage and is toasted by the gay/lesbian groups. If she had said she thought they should be allowed, she would have received the full assault of the religious moralists.
Good for you Carrie for speaking your mind in an honest and respectful manner.
There's another possibility: the pageant admins, wanting to get rid of her, put her in an impossible position, for example demanding that she do things against her conscience or that conflicted with prior obligations. When she didn't do those things, they used it as an excuse to take the crown.
didn't take too long for the gay lobby to weigh in on this..
Carrie – Most of America still stands behind you. Thanks for standing up for your beliefs…God will certainly bless you. I'm sure we'll be seeing much more of you in the future.
God Bless,
Logan
Prejean is awesome! A beautiful person with a good heart standing up for the right thing!
I believe that anyone should be able to voice their own opinion but what does that have to do with her not showing up at engagements. I think we are talking about two different issues here.
once again, as the late great Howard Cosell said- "there's no such thing as bad publicity" especially when you look like that and it's the gay lobby that despises you…
Sounds like a huge career win for her…
Ok so this article is like 20 minutes old and we already have comments deleted by the administrator?
What is it with this woman that makes people on both sides go absolutely nuts?
the troll count on this article alone is insane.
Am I the only one who thinks this is getting tiresome? This is something like the 3rd article in 24 hours about her. Ok let's discuss, but cerally. Oversaturation is fast approaching.
are pageants even relevant anymore? im more pissed that ppl were making a big deal about her comments in general. do these ppls opinions have any real weight anymore. i mean, its a pageant lol. nobody really cares about these things any more… ok im gay, and i can care less what she said. she believes what she believes. i mean if people really think that ms california is the end all be all about gay marriage than ppl are that small minded. just disagree without calling for peoples heads already! god!
Ms. Prejean – Mr. Trump does NOT deserve your 'respect' or anyone else's. The truth of the matter is that he never supported you in the first place – he would have willingly fired you at the beginning of this hysteria had it not been for the overwhelming support Americans have for you.
Mark my words – you are not a beauty queen Mr. Trump has fired. Instead, you are a warning to the rest of us of the power of gay hate in this nation. Your destruction is a threat to each and every one of us of what will happen if, like you, we dare to voice our beliefs, our faith in God, and our rights as citizens of this nation.
Well, I, for one am mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore.
Thank you, Carrie, for representing the views of the vast majority of Americans.
That makes sense, and in my mind seems likely. However, I'm hoping that Prejean might notice this post and give us the explanation that was given her (I'm assuming since this was a breach of contract that there must be a factual explanation.) That is missing from this letter, but at the same time, I don't expect her to release anything she doesn't want to or doesn't feel comfortable releasing. She certainly does have much opportunity ahead of her, and I could understand her just putting this behind her. Yet, my curiosity is itching!
I may not agree with her, but I respect her for honestly expressing her opinion. It's a sad day when people who claim to be open minded, are only so with those who believe exactly as they do. Her best revenge will be being successful.
Nothing is more viciously intolerant than GLBT types when anybody expresses distaste for their lifestyle. The sheer hatred gays and lesbians express for Christians mirrors Nazi hatred of Jews.
But don't take my word for it. Try reading their comments on any blog or e-newspaper that's opened a forum on the subject of "Gay Marriage". You'll be amazed at just how full of hatred and bile a sexual pervert can be.
Brava, Ms Prejean! The truth is plain for all to see. Continue to conduct yourself with such honor and dignity and your detractors can only bring unwanted attention to themselves, revealing their true muddy colors.
You are truly a self-made lady. Never let them try to make a fool of you. No one can make a fool of a self-made individual. Like the Donald, if he turns out to be a fool you can only take credit for exposing him.
Best wishes to you as you continue on life's journey. =)
What is the basis for your "belief" taht Ms Prejen did not honor her contract? Do you have facts or evidence for this, or only a knee-jerk conclusion since your poltical beliefs differ from yours?
Leave it to a few drag queens to screw up a good thing…and someone's life! Round up all those CA gays and put them out in the desert somewhere….no food/water. Trump is going the way of the dodo. His huge 'projects' are under fire. He is an insult to legitimate business.
Its amazing how one load mouthed gay can ruin a women's beauty pagent.
Only in America…………
She is a class act, and doesn't deserve the crap that's been hurled at her for the last few months. The left is so threatened by anyone who doesn't sign on to their agenda, they become absolutely rabid when someone on the right actually develops a spine.
Typical libs. They can dish it out, but they can't take it. Good for Carrie, she'll be JUST FINE.
While I do not agree with Ms. Prajean concerning gay marriage, I think it is absolutely deplorable what has happened to her since her honest comments during the pageant. This is the type of thing that happens in Cuba, North Korea, and Zimbabwe. Where is the ACLU to defend her? Unfortunately, too often its not about free speech, its about "correct" speech as defined by the totalitarian left in America.
Are you an imbecile, Charles? Without an inspection of the other contestants for surgical fakery, then your phrase "I'm glad she's out. The contest should be about natural beauty" shows only YOUR prejudice against just one of the fifty contestants!
The intolerance of the gay activists is alarming. You're pleased about a hatchet job. Amazing.
I'm sorry to say that the emails posted on Foxnews.com purportedly from Ms. Prejean to pageant officials does not do her case much good. If those emails are accurate, I'd have to say Ms. Prejean let things go to her head and can't really fault the pageant for firing her.
Freespeecher has indeed, hit the proverbial nail on the head! A perfect assessment.
There is no such thing as the gay lobby dude….. She wasn't just being a biggot… not just stating her own opinion.
I personally beleive she fufilled her contractual obligations, since (1) she said so in writing, and I would be very hard for her to backpedal from that lie (she is not, in fact Nacy Pelosi) and (2) Trump has not provided specifics about which engagements she failed to appear at.
Having said that, who cares? If she failed to show, she did not "get fired", she quit. There is a difference. Who would want to stay with an organization who hated her? And dont give me that crap about "honoring her contract". My guess is she never signed up to accept such abuse. Thus, no contract.
Finally, the other girl who seems to hate her might want to try a little surgery on the hip area – she is looking a little "wide".
Are you serious?
man.. wouldn't that piss off the shirt-lifting left? No matter what they do, or who they try and replace her with WE continue to call Her Miss California.. until there is a new one named next year.. hahahah
Well said.This young lady is fortunate on many levels not the least of which is that standing firm on her principles only cost her a pageant title. When totalitarians raise their ugly heads, the price is often much higher
And another thing – what would you know about tits, fake or otherwise?
GO, YOU YUMMY GIRL. KEEP AT IT…YOUR CASE CAN'T BE DENIED. OVER TIME THEY'LL UNDERSTAND, LIKE OTHER PRESSURE GROUPS, THAT 6% OF THE POPULATION IS ONLY 6 PERCENT.(94% COULD CARE LESS).
All religions are basically brainwashing; who would ever, as a reasoning adult, sign up for immaginary friends who watch everyone all the time, withjout first having about fifteen years of indoctrination by well meaning parents? No one that's who. Thta's why you almost always wind up in the religion of your parents; it's not a coincidence.
Religion is just superstion with good PR; sleep in on Sunday; there probably is no god (of any kind)
[...] Exclusive: Miss California Speaks Out After Pageant Firing by Carrie Prejean [...]
If there was no breach of employment contract, then sue. You haven't sued, so I am guessing you failed and breached first.
Shouldn't there have been "fifty…seven?" contestants? "And two or three more to go.."
Begone, troll!
Sounds like a right-said-fred song. "I am a martyr, you know what I mean, as I do my little turn on the catwalk"
You need to look up the word "lobby"…. dude.
Anybody else find this quote from her statement somewhat odd?
" I would not be the strong, courageous woman I am today without your support, and prayers."
Kind of full of herself?
He knows them when he sees them on the back of his boyfriend.. oh that's ZITS.. nevermind..
JoePalmer, have you by any chance, forwarded a missive regarding your beliefs to the Reverend Wright, or to Father Phlager? ……Perhaps to Mr. Obama, or to the Catholic Ms. Pelosi?
Because everyone seems to have forgotten how to "pop 'em in the mouth" when they sound off.. that's how the hippies got Obumble elected..
Ms. Prejean,
Thanks again for the strength you have shown through all of this and for representing not only yourself but the millions of Christians in this country. You have displayed great strength of character during this difficult time and I and my family applaud you. As a husband and father it is so refreshing to see someone so young who has a great moral compass and can be a role model for young women. It's not just about standing up for traditional marriage but also about being true to yourself, your convictions and doing so with grace and dignity.
In closing, it has been an absolute pleasure to watch you these past few months. May God continue to use you mightily and may His Will continue to lead you in all that you do. God Bless.
easy enough to see what on this one=will never support or watch that piece of crap show again "miss america"
which will force the donald to fire all those arsewipes who conspired against carrie
will also never support donald trump again in any of business's either (shows/casino's ect ect)
Good for you !!! You must now make sure that you sue the pageant and that pervert judge for libel and for whatever other damages to you from this breach of contract. Make those pageant worms squirm. Future contestants will thank you.
I'm sure she'll have a long successful life discriminating against others that aren't exactly like herself.
As will you, apparently. How dare anyone not agree with you on gay marriage!
Now that you are done with Miss Prejean, you may return to abusing the English language, i.e. your use of the term "homophobe". "Homophobia" is a mental health term, the definition of which is "an irrational fear of homosexuals". However, in the lexicon of gay activists, its definition has been transmogrified into "the unwillingness to approve of homosexuality". Even toleration without approval is defined as "homophobic". Therefore, you (and gay activists) have taken a term with a specific meaning and twisted it into a slander to be used against anyone who disagrees with you.
folks, here's is a terrific example of a lib-tard filled with self-hatred…. therefore, joel must post vitriolic comments toward this woman to feel good about himself, to show how enlightened he is, and how intellectually superior he is to Ms. Prejean….. excellent job joel…. now please do everyone a favor and scurry back under your rock.
Drop dead, jerk.. .. hope your sphincter collapses right as the busload of Sailors pulls up at your gloryhole..
Carrie's right about her stand against gay marriage being the same as Pres. Obama's and the majority population of this country. What's ironic is that Obama's mama was in the same position as gays are in now back in 1961 when the future president was born. Interracial marriage was illegal and it went on a state-by-state basis (with 92% of the population against it) until 1967 when the Supreme Court overturned it (with 72% of the population still against it). It's immoral to discriminate against gay people. If you think people choose their sexuality, go back and pinpoint the time you chose yours. But in answering the pageant question, Carrie said "that's how I was raised," which implies she cannot think for herself and would rather defer to others to think for her, in this case her family. That doesn't fly with me because I know cool people who were raised by bigots. It's an excuse.
I've noticed that any comments even slightly critical of a conservative perspective are soon deleted by the administrator. How ironic that a right wing blog would be so reminiscent of the Stalin era Soviet Union.
What an ignorant person you are, Joe. You know nothing about American history or you could not possible put forth such a stupid rendition of it.
1. The Pilgrims and following Puritans came here explicitly for the Glory of God. Period. End of Sentence.
2. The Anglicans of Jamestown were business minded, but their own written declaration stated first above all else they came here for the Glory of God and the furtherance of the Christian religion.
3. All colonial charters required office holders and voters to be Christian; many prohibited Catholics on very sound theological and political bases. WTF? you ask? BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO KEEP PEOPLE LIKE YOU OUT OF AMERICA.
Too bad their descendants got sloppy.
Joe, your village called. They want their peon back.
Fatasses always hate pretty girls.. because they lack the self discipline to push themselves back from the trable until the fifth or sixth serving of food.. they want to blame other girls for their character flaw.. "skinny bitch".. if she was to be called a fat bitch she'd start bawling or have a fat girl fit.. yelling and turning red in the face..
Actually NO ONE "took away" your right to get married to someone else of the same sex. The people of California did as many other states have done and voted against granting special rights to homosexuals to redefine marriage.
Palin/Prejean in 2012. Classy dames, tried by fire, drive the mouth breathers crazy, unhinge the jihadists, make Uncle Joe look like a senile old coot at the VP debates. Capture the youth vote. Let it be!!!
I think your question would be better directed to Mr. Trump, the owner of the pageant. How is it Tara Conner, the 2006 winner, was not "fired" by him when, among the several charges against her, there were complaints of her "lack of reliability when it came to showing up at Miss USA-related events" the same thing Carrie was supposedly dismissed for. http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20004750,...
But the MSM caters to that 6%.. because most of the MSM are either gay ass-spelunkers or bi-pole sitters..
So Carrie goes. Maybe Shanna Moakler the Miss California co-director will come back. Now isn't she the one who posed nude for Playboy and divorced a tatooed rocker after a reality series? Miss USA should close. What a mess.
BTW – Here is a call to Miss California pageant – PROVE YOUR CLAIMS!!
Here's the NAMBLA member MISS Palmer.. speaking out of her ass again.. must be because her mouth was full at the time..
I'm guessing that you are not a straight male..
Amen…………………..
I'd tell you eat sh!t Joe……..but I am sure that you already do that .
sounds like KOS or Huffypoot.. maybe you van go cry there.. pansy
I agree with you. I too do not care for the quick censorship. But, I gather, you haven't frequented the blogs called Democratunderground, or Moveon.org for a lack of critical thinking, or quick censorship of oppositional views?
What a dunce.
Campain poster
PALIN / PREJEAN
Our leaders are way hotter than yours..
Carrie, the rational thinking folks, both liberal and conservative, support your right of free speech. Most fair minded folks believe you were unfairly ambushed during the pagent by that little small minded person who thinks he is more important than he really is. You will go on to great success in life. I seem to remember another dethroned pagent winner who went on to greater fame than the lady who replaced her (Vanessa Williams). No one even knows who won Miss USA because you have gotten all of the attention of the media. I saw you on the Fox and Friends show. You did great. If they were smart, they would hire you.
The burden of proof is on the Trump Organization. They did the firing on claims that Ms. Prejean failed to honor her contract, yet that's about the furthest they've taken that accusation. They haven't been specific about anything. Was there an apperance she failed to make, or willfully chose not to make? Did she choose to attend and unsactioned event over a required one? Did she make an appearance without getting permission from the organization first? And if so, was it done mistakenly and ignorantly, or was it done willfully and with full knowledge?
The fact that all they're saying is they're firing her for not honoring her contract and then failing to specify exactly how she failed to honor her contract is extremely suspect in my mind. At any rate, the burden of proof is on them to give specific, valid reasons as to why they chose to terminate the contract.
Since virtually the entire Miss California pageant organization itself actively worked against her, completely failed to support her during the vicious and vile attacks on her, and even joined in with those slandering her and calling for her ouster; Carrie Prejean is better off not being the unwelcome punching bag of liberal extremist bigots and rabid, militant homosexual agenda hatemongers crying for tolerance but delivering bitter hatred and utter intolerance. Her ouster by an organization consumed with lockstep intolerance and malignant bias should be worn as the badge of honor it is. Whereas I will patronize Ms. Prejean's career appearances, I will never again watch even one second of any contest run by the same cowardly, dishonest low life trash that runs the Miss 'USSR" pageant.
THEIR REWARD
POSSESSIVE
This has nothing to do with your extremely obnoxious and incoherent answer to some pageant question. It has everything to do with the fact that you don't even have enough work ethic to hold down a beauty queen job. You should be ashamed, not indignant.
Let's hope not. She is an embarrassment.
awesome… you beat your wife with that mouth?
Just wondering … by what moral compass do you declare it's not ok for a 17 year old to pose topless?
When you oppose her views on gay marriage… what serves as your anchor – other than 'personal opinion' or it just feels right? Just points to when this nation started to drift in the sixties with the 'do it if it feels right' movement of the hippies.
As John Voight said the other night on Fox – when the massive protests of Vietnam turned their backs on Vietnam after we pulled out – allowing the slaughter of two million people – it was a turning point for him.
Just wondering what it's going to take for the rest of America to wake up.
Boycott Trumps businesses.
Carrie, apologies but I can't think of anything except a cliche at the moment, "You go girl!"
Frankly, this 'dismissal' is absolutely for the best, since you have outgrown being Miss California. I wish you the best, and hope to see you on F&F again soon.
And to whassername, Carrie's "successor," I wish you well as the Miss California pageant returns to the obscurity it came from. (BTW… who is Miss USA? I haven't a clue.)
Addition: I went to the FOXNews site and read the email or text message exchange between Ms Prejean and Keith Lewis. Although I do believe that she could have been more professional in her responses, I can sympathize that Carrie was probably under unusual pressure. Moreover, this exchange was only for one three-hour time span on 29-May, and probably not representative of other communications.
Neither Mr. Lewis nor anyone in the MissCal organization can claim with a straight face to be the aggrieved party here. This all began with Carrie's heartfelt thoughts answering Mr. Hilton's loaded question at the pageant. Speaking one's mind should not disqualify someone from what she had previously accomplished. Nope, the responsibility here is squarely on Shanna Moakler, Keith Lewis, et al.
joel, joel, joel…. be an atheist, it's your right to do so…. to sleep in on sunday…. but you don't have to knock religion…. but one thing joel… your last sentence says "there probably is no god (of any kind)… sounds like your still a bit unsure there…. at the end of your time on earth, you better hope you were correct in your assumptions
I think everyone needs to listen to her response again…including Ms Prejean.
"I think it's great that Americans are able to choose one or the other. We live in a land that you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage …"
She goes on to say she personally believes marriage is between a man and a woman. That's all fine. But if she says it's great that we as Americans have a choice, why is she now working to take that choice away???? I'm sorry, but she helped fuel this controversy and used it to divert attention from her unseemly pics that emerged.
Finally! An intelligent post about this silly topic. I agree. I could care less what her opinion is about gay marriage. But this isn't about that. It's about her inability to do a job.
Enough!!! I've had it!! The media is taking over this society. For chrissakes people, wake up! This woman took a stand and she was treated fairly throughout the process after the scandal broke. break this down and you have another person just trying to make a buck. She was on Fox News, but didn't have time to fulfill her duties. So according this woman, the instant track to fame supersedes the responsibilities she practiced so hard for and won? This is like a politician who is elected, but decides to blow off his responsibilities to be in a movie or a TV show. This woman got paid to be a Fox News host, and now that they canned her, she plays the victim for more air time and attention from the public. This is how people make themselves into celebrities. This is NOT news. It's publicity for a selfish little brat.
I'm not a democrat either. I'm a non-republican conservative. WAKE UP YOU FOOLS! TUNE OUT!! TAKE YOUR GOV'T BACK AND STOP CONSUMING THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA!!!
John, I know from life experiences that when someone in charge wants you gone, they will make it happen, and offer up a reason which has nothing to do with reality. Some of life's messiest situations contain no hint of logic. I'm glad the young woman was able to stand tall. I didn't follow the story, but I always admire brave people and wish to surround myself with them.
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