Jeannie Mai has change of heart, steps down as Miss USA co-host after Donald Trump's 'ongoing antics'

There’s more fallout from Donald Trump’s comments on Mexican immigrants, as another Miss USA co-host, Jeannie Mai, has announced she’s stepping down.

Just last week, Mai posted an Instagram post announcing she has “decided to continue my role as co-host” despite not agreeing with Trump’s comments.

She has since had a change of heart and has taken to Instagram again to explain why. She said she’s “respectfully withdrawing” her participation in the event because of Trump’s "ongoing antics.”

“At the time I made my decision to remain part of the Miss USA pageant, I was under the impression that Mr. Trump would no longer be involved in the production of the show in any capacity what so ever,” she said.

“In addition, given Mr. Trump's ongoing antics, including his most recent episode today with the current Miss Universe, it is clear that Mr. Trump’s actions have and will continue to distract focus away from the real stars of the show - the women involved in the pageant."

Cheryl Burke also announced her decision to pull out of co-hosting duties, writing on Facebook she “cannot in good conscience move forward with participating in this year’s Miss USA Pageant as its co-host” because of Trump.

Also as a result of his comments, NBC has cut ties with him as well as Univision and Macy's.

While I absolutely do not condone Mr. Trump's statements, after careful deliberation I have decided to continue my role as co-host of the upcoming Miss USA Pageant. For the past several years, I have been co-hosting both Miss USA and Miss Universe aligned to support President Paula Shugart. I can't abandon these women when they need our support now more than ever. The mission of the Miss Universe organization has always been to unite women from all over the world and celebrate different cultures. They empower women to become role models in their communities in order to build self-esteem and advance philanthropic initiatives. It is truly unfortunate that recent events have overshadowed the amazing work these women have been doing, but the goals of their organization have not changed. Through the years I've experienced a wide variety of inspiring stories. I've met women who used the pageant to help fund their education. I got to know winners like Miss Universe Leila Lopes who used the platform to bring so much positive attention to emerging countries like Angola. There are countless stories of real women working hard to impact social change. My entire career has been driven by my inspiration to celebrate women and their potential. I hope everyone can transcend this controversy so we don’t lose sight of that. As long as there is one woman standing there on that stage, I intend to be standing there beside her.

A photo posted by @thejeanniemai on

To my friends & fans: Last week I announced my heart-felt decision to support the women of Miss USA by remaining on board as a co-host. My focus was strictly on the women involved, who share the same ethics of hard work, commitment and passion for their careers and causes that I do. I have co-hosted for the last five years various Miss Universe events, and I’m grateful for the many women I’ve met and friends I’ve made along the way. I feel terrible that the women competing this year have fallen victim to current events. Let me be clear, I condemn the recent words of Mr. Trump, and find them immensely offensive. At the time I made my decision to remain part of the Miss USA pageant, I was under the impression that Mr. Trump would no longer be involved in the production of the show in any capacity what so ever. In addition, given Mr. Trump's ongoing antics, including his most recent episode today with the current Miss Universe, it is clear that Mr. Trump’s actions have and will continue to distract focus away from the real stars of the show - the women involved in the pageant. Therefore, I am respectfully withdrawing from my responsibilities and commitment as co-host of Miss USA. From the beginning, I announced publicly that I was donating my compensation to a worthy charity. Although I will no longer be participating as a co-host, I still want to support the women competing in the pageant. I feel the best way to show that is to lend my support to this year's winner of Miss USA and to make the donation I promised to her platform and charity. Ladies, you worked so hard to get here. I am proud of who you are and wish you the best of luck Sunday evening.

A photo posted by @thejeanniemai on

image via Instagram from Jeannie Mai

image via INFphoto.com

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