News

Judges question for Miss Hawaii set off such a firestorm, the Miss USA audience had to be calmed

June 6, 2016 | | Print Article

Want more hot BPR News stories? Sign up for our morning blast HERE

The 2016 Miss USA Pageant is over and the winner has been crowned, but there is still plenty of outrage over one of the questions posed to a contestant.

“With Hillary Clinton expected to surpass the delegate count needed to win the Democratic party nomination, my question to you is: If the election were held tomorrow, would you vote Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump for President and why would you chose one over the other?” judge Laura Brown asked Miss Hawaii, Chelsea Hardin.

The audience at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday began to boo before Brown even finished the question which appeared to surprise the 24 year-old Hardin. “I would get that, right?” she said before launching into her answer, the Washington Post reported.

“All I have to say, it doesn’t matter what gender,” Hardin said. “What we need in the United States is someone who represents those of us who don’t feel like we have a voice. Those of us who want our voices heard. We need a president who will push for what is right and who will push for what America really needs.”

Though Hardin essentially sidestepped a direct answer, outrage from the audience and the firestorm ignited on social media were directed at the Pageant and Brown for asking the question.

After a commercial break, the show’s co-host Terrence Jenkins tried to calm tensions, clarifying that all the questions are created by the Miss USA organization, the Post reported. “If you’re on Twitter, the judges did not come up with those questions, alright? Just so that you know. They were randomly picked,” Jenkins said to boos from the audience. “I know what you are booing, and she answered the question marvelously.”

It seems the show’s producers couldn’t resist getting in a question about former pageant owner Donald Trump. Miss District of Columbia Deshauna Barber eventually won the 2016 and Miss Hawaii was named first runner-up.

Here is a sampling of the Twitter responses:

Sign up for our morning blast HERE

 

Powered by Topple

Frieda Powers
Latest posts by Frieda Powers (see all)

Comments

Latest Articles