The Miss USA pageant has suddenly found itself without hosts or broadcaster.
Professional dancer Cheryl Burke announced on Tuesday that she was withdrawing as co-host thanks to Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s derogatory comments towards Mexican immigrants, according to CNN. Later, NBC confirmed that newsman Thomas Roberts was also relinquishing his hosting duties.
NBC spokesman confirms that @ThomasARoberts is withdrawing from the Miss USA event, too. This means the July 12 pageant has no hosts now.
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) June 30, 2015
In explaining her decision, Burke wrote on Facebook that she could not “in good conscience” participate in the event “in light of the recent statements made by Donald Trump and the subsequent decision by NBC to cut ties” with him.
Both NBC Universal and Univision in recent days severed business ties with the reality-TV star and candidate, who also co-owns the pageant. The networks cited comments in which Trump referred to Mexican immigrants as rapists and drug-peddlers. Trump has since threatened to sue both broadcasters.
In a statement Tuesday morning, Miss USA organizers insisted the event will go on as planned, though it currently has no broadcaster. The event is scheduled to take place on July 12 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.