Carrie Prejean's lawyer: 'She was wet up'

Dethroned pageant queen Carrie Prejean isn't finished playing the blame game.

Nooo way! Really?

As foreseen, Carrie's lawyer, Charles LiMandri, is going on the offensive against state pageant organization and director Keith Lewis, claiming Lewis plotted the downfall of the former Miss California by knowingly sending her lists of events and opportunities that were beyond the typical expected duties.

"There was really a lack for trust and a lack of respect," LiMandri told E! News. "He was trying to set her up. Keith Lewis and Shanna Moakler wanted her out, pure and simple. They finally found a way to get their way."

At the time of firing Carrie, Lewis said she skipped more than 30 appearances and that her inability to live up to the terms of her contract was the reason she was fired.

He said the Playboy spread was part of the setup.

"She had just gotten a request to do a Playboy shoot with partial nudity—this was several days after [Donald] Trump reinstated her," LiMandri said. "[Lewis] knew she wouldn't do that stuff, and he was trying to set her up, saying, 'You can pick your photographer. You can pick the photos.' And then he'd be able to fire her for sure."

LiMandri also claims Lewis sent Prejean a list of Hollywood events recommending that she try to attend some, though her presence was never requested by the event organizers.

"Some of the things were such short notice, like that day or the next day, that they couldn't expect her to do it anyhow," he said. "When I read through the list with her, she said there was a lot of stuff she would like to go to, but it's not 'Miss California' stuff."

Stuff?

During her various TV interviews last week, Carrie declared she wasn't just "Miss Hollywood."

"What we expected her to be doing…it's community service events, it's charitable organizations, rotary conventions, avocado festivals, fairs," LiMandri said. "When she got the Hollywood list she said 'OK, but what about from Sacramento to San Diego?' "

Miss California USA Pageant executive directors Keith Lewis (left) and Shanna Moakler (right) held a Miss California USA Pageant press conference on May 11 during which they criticized Prejean for having appeared semi-nude on pictures prior to pageant and for making public appearances with groups opposed to same-sex marriage. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images)

One specific event Prejean rejected was in blatant opposition to her politics: a movie premiere about same-sex marriage.

"[Lewis] wanted her to go to the debut of a docudrama supporting same-sex marriage," the attorney said. "The people [who] produced it were going to be there explaining their journey as gay men toward same-sex marriage. She said, 'I'm just not comfortable doing that.' I wrote back to [Lewis'] attorney saying, 'She won't do the pro-traditional marriage stuff as Miss California. But don't ask her to do the pro-same-sex marriage stuff either.'"

More stuff?

LiMandri insisted that if Lewis and the Miss California organization do not stop speaking ill of Prejean, he will have no choice but to file a lawsuit against them.

Did or didn't we see this coming?

What exactly does "stop speaking ill" mean in this case? She was fired, end of story. No more speaking needed. This is BS...the lawsuit is coming whether people keep talking or not.

"We think she's got a great case," he said. "She just has to weigh her other options and see if that's what she wants to be doing for the next couple years—being involved in litigation—as opposed to taking advantage of these other offers or opportunities that are presenting themselves to her...At the same time, she doesn't feel that she can just stand by and let herself be continually defamed by Keith Lewis, saying things that are not true."

LiMandri suggested a tell-all book about her time as Miss California may be one of those current opportunities.

How original.

For additional background information on this story see Trump to Miss California: You're fired! published on June 10 and Um...girl, shut up already!...no wonder you lost posted on June 13.

Sources: E! News, My Twisted Mind
Copyright © 2009

Ex-Miss California Prejean speaks out...again

Left: Carrie Prejean (CNN photo)

Former Miss California USA Carrie Prejean wants to set the record straight. In other words, she wants to have the last word...as usual.

And her last word is...are you ready?...that she was fired because she's against same-sex marriage.

Haven't we heard this before? Hasn't this been the excuse for all the hoo-ha from day one?

I'm sorry, but I'm out of sympathy for this girl.

Carrie found herself at the center of controversy when she declared her opposition to same-sex marriage in response to a question posed by a judge--celebrity gossip blogger Perez Hilton, who's as in-your-face gay as they get--during the Miss USA pageant on April 19, overshadowing the victory of Kristen Dalton, the contestant from North Carolina.

Carrie was allowed to keep her Miss California USA crown in May after topless photos and missed appearances, but on Wednesday she was dethroned on the basis of multiple "contract violations" as per pageant director Keith Lewis.

On Friday, she got to tell her side of the story (at this point, do we care?) on CNN's Larry King on Friday, discussing whether she would sue to reclaim her title and her future plans. Following is an edited version of the interview.

Larry King: You've had a couple of days now, Carrie, to think it all over and it's sunk in. What are your feelings today?

Prejean: I'm definitely a little bit surprised just by the way that I found out about this. You know, I was called by the media to inform me that I was fired.

King: Are you saying the pageant didn't call you?

Prejean: No. I haven't received any phone calls. In fact, my lawyer found out from the media, as well, before we received any contact. I still have not, to this day, received any contact from Mr. Lewis.

King: Now, since they were so supportive of you at the time and after the Trump announcement, what do you make of the fact that they didn't call you?

Prejean: Well, I think Mr. Trump was definitely in the middle. And I think that, you know, he has only heard one side. Ultimately, at the end of the day, you have to think about, Are you going to release Mr. Keith Lewis or are you going to release Carrie Prejean? I think that they had to release the beauty queen at the end of the day. (How many ends of how many days?)

(Pet peeve side note: Am I the only one who cringes upon hearing "at the end of the day" and "step up to the plate"? Within a couple of years, these two phrases have from obscurity to mainstream to I can't stand them anymore.)

King: How do you respond to (charges from Lewis)?

Prejean: Well, Larry, all I can tell you was this basically comes down to the answer that I gave the night of the pageant. As you can see, Mr. Lewis does not agree with the stance that I took. I think he's very angry. I think he's hurt. He said in a previous statement that he's deeply saddened and hurt that--what Carrie Prejean believes in--a marriage is between a man and a woman. Politics and religion have no play in the Miss California family. (Family? Oh...corporate talk...eek.)

My question is, then why was the question asked at the pageant in the first place? If politics has no role in the pageant, why was I given this question?

It was a hidden personal agenda that judge No. 8 asked, and I think that they were not ready for my answer that I gave. (My answer that I gave? Maybe she was nervous.)

King: Let's say they were upset by your remarks. They didn't like your answer. Why didn't they just tell Donald Trump we're unhappy and let's pick the runner-up or whatever?

Prejean: He absolutely did. I mean Keith Lewis held a press conference in Los Angeles and didn't invite me to the press conference and, you know, awarded the first runner up as the new ambassador of California. That is just undermining me and undermining his own titleholder from day one.

As far as the other appearances, I've had some inappropriate appearances that Keith Lewis has asked me to do. And I'm sure you're aware of them already: one of them being Playboy; another one being a reality show which is being filmed in Costa Rica. So had I said yes to these, I mean, I would have been out of the country. (These? Only the second one would've been out of the country--right?)

Again, Playboy, I couldn't believe. I was completely shocked that he would even pass this along to me. Another one was a gay movie premiere that he wanted me to attend incognito. He actually said he wanted me to wear a hat and go in disguise and attend this movie premiere promoting gay marriage and then come out with a statement the next day saying that Carrie Prejean attended a gay movie premiere.

It just doesn't seem right, Larry, does it? (Oh, c'mon--Larry ain't gonna fall for that, Carrie.)

(Playboy, reality show, incognito at a gay movie...I hope Keith Lewis will respond to these allegations because if they're true, well, he might be in trouble. If they're fabrications, she's toast--well, she's already toast, so she would be burnt toast. People have had enough of Carrie Prejean, if you ask me. She's on her way to becoming the most hated person [remember Jason from The Bachelor?] in the U.S., if she already isn't.)

King: Are you now sorry you even entered. Or, in retrospect, has this been a boom for you publicity-wise?

Prejean: You know, this isn't something that I signed up for, Larry. I simply entered in a pageant, the Miss California USA contest, and I gave an answer that a lot of people weren't expecting. (Then why haven't you stepped off the radar?)

The bottom line, I took a stand, and I think I am now being punished for the answer that I gave. This isn't about contracts. This isn't about me missing out on appearances.

If you want to ask Keith Lewis any appearances that I have made prior to the Miss California U.S. pageant, I will guarantee you, Larry, he will not even--he can't even tell you an appearance that he--he scheduled for me.

This isn't about appearances. This isn't about a breach of contract. This is about Keith Lewis not agreeing with the stance that I took on saving traditional marriage. And from day one, he wanted me out.

(Uh, oh...yup...this just crossed a certain line that, in my opinion, will compel Lewis to respond either via the media or in court.)

King: Well, are you going to sue, Carrie? (There we go.)

Prejean: That's--you know, that's something that is not something that I want to--I want to do. (She says "want" because this does not answer whether she will or not. She will, and she'll remind us she didn't want to but she had to because of what was done to her. ) I think that what's going on is wrong. And I think that there is definitely some information that is missing. And I know that sooner or later, the truth will come out and people will recognize here who's right and who's wrong.

King: What are your lawyers telling you to do or advising you to do?

Prejean: You know, that's up to my lawyers to determine whether or not they think that there will be a lawsuit involved. But that's not up to me, at this point. (Yes it is, my friend. And you're avoiding the question--again.)

King: What are you going to do right now, career-wise?

Prejean: Well, first of all, I want to thank the millions of viewers. I know you have so many viewers on your show, Larry. Thank you so much for your support. (Who says he's supporting her? Who says the millions of watchers support her? That's a bit presumptuous, isn't it?) Thank you to all the Californians who have supported me, who backed me, who sent me thousands of letters and e-mails. I just want to thank you so much for your prayers, for your support.

And I know that when God is for you, no one can be against you. So thank you.

(Um...and your answer to the career question is?)

King: Can you tell us what you're going to do, though?

Prejean: I'm not sure. Definitely some--a lot of offers--opportunities have come my way, a lot of offers. (Wouldn't it be the ultimate irony if she posed for Playboy...with a bible on her crotch? No, I'm not knocking religion--I'm knocking hypocrisy because I think there's some of that going on here.)

I'm just really excited. I feel relieved. I feel just so blessed and so honored to have represented the state of California. And I'm ready to move on with my life and just be where God leads me.

Then if she's so happy, excited, relieved, why are we to pity her? I mean, that's one of the purposes of this interview, isn't it?--to sympathize with her or pity her. This is what many people do when they couldn't be angrier or sadder: they publicly declare life couldn't be better hoping that will somehow get under the skin of whoever did them wrong...if you ask me.

I think it's time for her to move on past this pageant drama.

Sources: CNN Larry King, Me
Copyright © 2009

Trump to Miss Calilfornia: You're Fired!

I can just picture him: "You're beautiful, smart, but for now, Carrie, [hits desk, points finger] you're fired."

Yes, beauty queen Carrie Prejean has lost her crown.

Pageant officials said Wednesday the 22-year-old Miss California and Miss USA runner-up was fired because of continued breach of contract issues.

"This was a decision based solely on contract violations including Ms. Prejean's unwillingness to make appearances on behalf of the Miss California USA organization," executive director Keith Lewis said in a statement.

"After our press conference in New York we had hoped we would be able to forge a better working relationship. However, since that time it has become abundantly clear that Carrie is unwilling to fulfill her obligations under our contract and work together."

Miss USA co-owner Donald Trump--who saved the pro-"opposite sex" marriage, breast-bearing-citing-wardrobe-malfunction evangelical Christian from losing her crown last month after semi-nude photos of her made public--did not step in to save her this time.

"I told Carrie she needed to get back to work and honor her contract with the Miss California USA Organization and I gave her the opportunity to do so," Trump said in the statement. "Unfortunately it just doesn't look like it is going to happen and I offered Keith my full support in making this decision. Carrie is a beautiful young woman and I wish her well as she pursues her other interests."

Not surprisingly, news of her firing had led to yet more controversy.

She reportedly missed several pageant events, received a warning and eventually promised to be a good girl. Those defending her claim that since "communication" was restored with the organization, she has been doing her job, meeting every obligation and attending every event for which she has been scheduled. Others are saying she publicly blasted the pageant folks during the speaking engagements. And there are those who claim that breach of contract is just an excuse to get rid of what turned out to be a rude and combative representative of the Miss USA organization.

"This is all kind of a big shock," Charles Limandri, Carrie's lawyer, said in a statement. "We've been working with Mr. Trump's office; she's been doing all the speaking engagements she's been asked to do. It is not true that she has not been cooperating....Something is going on," he said. "Truth is not being told. I don't understand where this is coming from, or why."

Miss California runner-up Tami Farrell will immediately take over the crown and Carrie's responsibilities as Miss California, the pageant organization said. The current Miss USA Kristen Dalton and Miss Universe Dayana Mendoza will also lend a hand in making appearances.

Carrie's answer to a question about same-sex marriage asked by celebrity gossip blogger and gay activist Perez Hilton, who served as one of the judges at the April 19 Miss USA pageant, sparked controversy and attracted tons of media coverage in the weeks after the pageant.

Initially, she was criticized for saying she lost the pageant because of her conservative views that marriage is meant to be between a man and a woman. Then, just when that controversy was dying down, her nipple made an appearance--and we know how Americans fear The Nipple.

The semi-nude pictures (I know, how original...I'm ready for a serial killer or gender-bending winner to be stripped of her crown) reportedly were shot for an ad campaign, and she claimed the photographer took advantage of her by shooting a few frames when the wind shifted her vest just enough to reveal a nipple.

This reminds me of Janet Jackson's infamous nipple, which made a surprise appearance because of yet another "wardrobe malfunction" (they denied it was planned...of course) during the halftime show of Super Bowl 2004 when she took the stage with singer Justin Timberlake, who at the end of a song ripped a piece of cloth off Jackson's right breast, revealing a partially covered nipple for nine sixteenths of a second. Wardrobe malfunction my ass. There was a public outcry and parents were traumatized because they didn't know what to tell their kids about The Nipple.

Nipplegate led to an immediate crackdownon indecency in broadcasting and to a record $550,000 fine levied by the FCC against CBS as well as an increase of the FCC fine per indecency violation from $27,500 to $325,000.

What I found interesting about Carrie's photos was not the nipple they showed but the underlying hypocrisy they revealed.

Isn't it two-faced to denounce same-sex marriage because of what the bible states about homosexuality but be OK with posing semi-nude for pictures whose only possible purpose is to arouse feelings of lust, which according to the bible is a sin?

The good news is that regardless of the controversy they generated, neither her views on marriage nor her nipple led to her dethroning. And I for one am glad about that.

(Dedicated to my #1--and likely only--fan: Walter. Hi Wally!)

Sources: ABC News, CNN, L.A. Times, TMZ, EW.com
Copyright © 2009