In December 2017, reports on leaked emails described Miss America Organization CEO Sam Haskell and others making derogatory remarks about former titleholders, including Mallory Hagan and Gretchen Carlson. The disclosures prompted calls for leadership resignations. Haskell was suspended and then resigned; board chair Lynn Weidner also resigned. A&E’s later four-episode series Secrets of Miss America revisits the controversy alongside broader questions about the pageant’s history and culture.
What the reports said about the emails
On December 22, 2017, the Associated Press reported that former Miss Americas were calling for resignations after correspondence attacking former titleholders became public. The report named Mallory Hagan and Gretchen Carlson among those targeted. The Associated Press report, carried by the Los Angeles Times, describes the controversy as it unfolded.
CBS News reported that the messages included remarks about Hagan’s appearance and sexual history, and that former titleholders called for leaders to step down. Those are descriptions of reported correspondence, not judicial findings. The leaked emails themselves are not reproduced here, so the claims should be understood as contemporaneous news accounts of the messages. CBS News’ December 22, 2017 coverage summarizes the allegations and reaction.
What happened to the organization’s leadership
Haskell was suspended amid the backlash and subsequently resigned. Time reported on December 23, 2017, that board chair Lynn Weidner also resigned, and that board member Tammy Haddad had resigned earlier. The sequence shows the controversy reaching beyond the CEO, but the reporting does not establish that every departure had the same immediate cause. Time’s account of the resignations covers the leadership changes.
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How Secrets of Miss America revisits the scandal
A&E’s Secrets of Miss America is a four-episode limited series. Its official description includes the email revelations, but also places them within a wider examination of the pageant, drawing on former titleholders and other participants. The listed themes include claims of racism in the pageant’s history, mental health, and the swimsuit competition. That broader scope distinguishes the series from the immediate 2017 news coverage, which centered on the emails and calls for leadership change. A&E’s official series page lists the season and its themes.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where to find the series
A&E’s series page lists a “Stream on A&E” option. Streaming availability can change and may vary by location, so check the official page for current access in your area.
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