What do you think about the Miss America CEO Sam Haskell apologizing to Vanessa

1. 85

   gmwilliamsposted 8 years ago

   What do you think about the Miss America CEO Sam Haskell apologizing to Vanessa
   
   Williams for being forced to resign Miss America in 1984 due to the mistakes she had supposedly made?  Do you believe that the apology was way overdue?  Vanessa Williams was asked to be the head judge in the 2016 Miss America contest.  Sam Haskell CEO of the Miss America organization apologized to Ms. Williams to a standing ovation by the audience.
   
   

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2. 74

   Misfit Chickposted 8 years ago

   It was way way waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay overdue. At least she got one, I suppose.

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   1. 85

      gmwilliamsposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Of course, it was overdue.  What the Miss America did in 1984 was to create a big ta-do over nothing at all.  The way the pageant treated her then was totally atrocious and utterly disgraceful.

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3. 76

   Country-Sunshineposted 8 years ago

   I haven't really followed this, since I don't care much about these contests.  That said, I don't see any reason for Mr. Haskell to apologize, unless he was the one responsible for asking her to step down in 1984.  And even then, if the rules were "no nudity", then they were within their rights to de-crown her.

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      Misfit Chickposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      It was misogyny, plain & simple. The women in this country should have stood up and screamed to high heaven. Leaders of Countries apologize for war crimes decades later. He was right to apologize. BTW, I don't follow these contests, either.

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   2. 85

      gmwilliamsposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Of course, it was total misogyny in addition to racial prejudice.  Vanessa was made to be the scapegoat because she was the first Black Miss America.  She should never have been forced to resign for something that was totally innocuous.

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4. 93

   FatFreddysCatposted 8 years ago

   It was a nice gesture on the Miss America organization's part, but y'know what? Things turned out rather well for Ms. Williams over the years, thanks to that 'controversy.' She became the most well known Miss America contestant ever and it led to a fairly consistent career for her as a singer, actress, spokesperson, etc. for 30 years.  If she had been just another Miss America winner she probably would've faded into obscurity a year or two after she was crowned, like most beauty queens do. 
   The old saying "living well is the best revenge" comes to mind, because Vanessa definitely has. She would've been justified in saying "Pfffft. I don't need your apology. I did just fine without it," hahaha.

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   1. 74

      Misfit Chickposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Yeah, she did great. If the controversy would have been just about her; then this question would be moot. Grace made that point best, above. Misogyny and prejudice are big, harmful ideals that need to change. That often starts with a 'late' apology.

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