The Miss USA pageant, left without a TV home following blowback against co-owner Donald Trump over his comments on Mexican immigrants, has been rescued by the Reelz channel.
In a statement issued this morning, Reelz CEO Stan E. Hubbard says the cable and satellite channel acquired the rights because of a belief that the pageant and the women who compete in it “are an integral part of American tradition.”
The Associated Press reports that while Reelz says it considered the interests of Miss USA contestants, the host city of Baton Rouge and viewers in making its decision, it made no mention of Trump or the hot water he’s found himself in since he announced his presidential bid in June.
The statement also does not include details on Reelz’s acquisition of the pageant that had been a joint venture between Trump and NBC, as was the Miss Universe pageant. NBC cited Trump’s comments on immigrants in announcing it was cutting business ties with him. There was no immediate response from Trump to a request for comment from The AP this morning on the Reelz acquisition.
This isn’t the first time Reelz has gone its own way. When the History channel dropped The Kennedys miniseries that had been made for it, saying it didn’t fit its brand, Reelz aired it in 2011 and was rewarded with record channel ratings and awards attention.
Reelz says the Miss USA pageant will be televised July 12, its originally scheduled date on NBC. The pageant will have to scramble after a mass exodus of performers, hosts and judges who cited opposition to Trump’s views as the reason.
