Miss America CEO Officially Apologizes to Vanessa Williams
Celebrity

Miss America Executive Chairman and CEO Sam Haskell says on the stage of the Sunday pageant, 'On behalf of today's organization I want to apologize to you and your mother, Ms. Helen Williams.'

AceShowbiz - Vanessa Williams was warmly welcomed to the Miss America stage on Sunday, September 13. The singer/actress, who opened the 2015 pageant with a performance of her 1997 hit "Oh How the Years Go By", received an official apology from Miss America Executive Chairman and CEO Sam Haskell for how his predecessors handled the situation during her Penthouse photo scandal.

"I have been a close friend to this beautiful and talented lady for 32 years," Haskell said when joining Williams onstage. "You have lived your life in grace and dignity and never was it more evident than during the events of 1984 when you resigned."

He continued, "Though none of us currently in the organization were involved then on behalf of today's organization I want to apologize to you and to your mother, Ms. Helen Williams. I want to apologize for anything that was said or done that made you feel any less the Miss America you are and the Miss America you always will be."

Williams responded by giving Haskell a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you Sam, so unexpected but so beautiful," she said. "I did the best that I could during my reign during 1983 to 1984. On behalf of my family and my mother in particular...and your leadership and intergrity, I love you. I love this girls and I'm so honored."

Williams, who became the first African-American woman crowned Miss America in 1983, resigned her title after Penthouse magazine announced they would publish her nude pictures taken a year before her victory in the pageant. She recently said that she still keeps the crown she received from the pageant.

Follow AceShowbiz.com @ Google News

You can share this post!

You might also like
Related Posts