Cheryl Burke quits Miss USA gig after NBC opts not to air pageant
By the time that the Miss USA Pageant actually happens come July 12, is there really going to be any event at all? The show has already lost Univision, NBC, and its Spanish-language co-hosts. Now, Cheryl Burke has also stepped down as co-host for the English-language broadcast (should it actually find a new home).
The former “Dancing with the Stars” pro made her decision known in a statement, doing her part still to wish some of the contestants luck who are probably debating themselves as to whether or not all of the buzz surrounding Donald Trump has turned this pageant into one giant distraction. Ultimately, though, it seems like she could just not support an event co-owned by someone in Trump who had made such controversial comments regarding Mexican-Americans:
“In light of the recent statements made by Donald Trump and the subsequent decision by NBC to cut ties with Mr. Trump, I cannot in good conscience move forward with participating in this year’s Miss USA Pageant as its co-host. Effective today I have withdrawn from my duties with Miss USA. Although I will not be there in person, I wish all of the contestants much luck as I know how hard they’ve all been working over the last year to try and realize their dreams.”
As we have said before, we do feel for the contestants who really have nothing to do with Trump’s political views, and have been left without a broadcast home for the show. There’s no telling if another TV network will pick it up, but it feels like it would be a really hard sell given that nobody will want the flurry of criticism that comes with it.
In the end, the likely situation here is that the pageant ends up being broadcast via a live stream or some other means that does not get a major broadcaster involved. We do feel like it is necessary to also share the statement released recently from the Miss Universe organization (or at least a part of it), which does remind you that they are not necessarily tying themselves to Trump:
“It is unfortunate that recent events beyond our control have only served to negatively impact the women who participate in the pageant, our state directors, our sponsors and our fans. We want our supporters to know we remain committed to them and we will be conducting the pageant, regardless of the current situation. We are moving forward, full-steam ahead as planned for the next two weeks, culminating in the crowning of a new Miss USA on July 12th.”
We will provide some more updates on the pageant and any potential future home for it as they start to come out. For now, be sure to head over here to get more reaction to NBC’s initial decision, or sign up to acquire more TV news on all we cover, courtesy of our CarterMatt Newsletter. (Photo: Miss USA.)