MC responds after 'offensive' #MeToo joke at Miss Massachusetts finals
The man who caused outrage at a heat of the Miss America beauty pageant has broken his silence over his questionable #MeToo joke.
Rich Allegretto was the Master of Ceremonies at the Miss Massachusetts finals last Saturday, when he performed the skit that prompted the Miss Plymouth County winner to hand back her crown.
Played during the final round of the competition, Mr Allegretto was on stage dressed as “God.”
“We may very well have seen the last ever swimsuit competition on stage. It’s very upsetting,” a woman on stage with Mr Allegretto said.
“I’m trying to understand… God, why it happened.”
Mr Allegretto’s “God” responds “Me too Amy.”
While it got a light chuckle from the crowd and a lot of cheers, many were floored by the joke, including Maude Gorman, a contestant.
She resigned as Miss Plymouth County for the Miss Massachusetts Miss America Organization after finding the joke offensive.
Miss Gorman, who is a survivor of sexual assault, said mocking a movement that empowers survivors is “inappropriate” - especially for a “women’s empowerment organisation.”
The Miss America Organisation posted an apology on its Facebook page saying the skit was not in the script or approved by the board.
“I would like to set the record straight,” Mr Allegretto posted to the organisation’s Facebook page yesterday.
The skit was meant as a satirical poke at those who are upset that the swimsuit competition is going away,” he said.
“It was intended to be a nod to the #MeToo movement, not a knock to it.”
The Master of Ceremonies claimed he was also a survivor of sexual assault and it was never his intention to insult “a movement that has done so much good for so many of us.”
“I refuse to stand idly by and simply let this go,” said Miss Gorman.
“Instead, I will stand up for every individual who has ever had the courage to speak out; and for every person who felt liberated by the #MeToo movement.
“I will not allow ANYONE to take away that empowerment and liberation, or make it anything less than what it is,” she posted on Instagram.
She also said “Please, never be afraid to stand up for what you believe in and be the change you wish to see in this world.”
The Miss America pageant announced it was dropping the swimsuit segment earlier this year, saying they will no longer be judging women based on their appearance.
In place of the swimsuit competition, contestants will participate in an interactive session with the judges "where she will highlight her achievements and goals in life and how she will use her talents, passion, and ambition to perform the job of Miss America," the organisation said in a statement.
The changes will start with this year’s broadcast on September 9.
