‘The Early Show’ transcript regarding former Miss California Carrie Prejean
Network News Release …
Keith Lewis, Executive Director of the Miss California USA Organization told anchor Julie Chen on “The Early Show” Thursday morning (June 11, 2009) that he deals with Carrie Prejean through attorneys. The full transcript, in which he describes the former Miss California USA’s lack of commitment and “difficult” behavior is below.
VIDEO: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=5080632n
THE EARLY SHOW on CBS
JULIE CHEN, CO-ANCHOR: While she sparked controversy with everything from her views on gay marriage to news of her breast implants, now Donald Trump has taken the Miss California title away from Carrie Prejean, allegedly because she skipped out on public appearances. The crown now goes to Tami Farrell, who joins us from Los Angeles, along with the executive director of the Miss California organization, Keith Lewis.
Good morning to you both.
TAMI FARRELL, NEW MISS CALIFORNIA USA: Good morning.
KEITH LEWIS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MISS CALIFORNIA USA ORGANIZATION:
Good morning.
CHEN: Keith, let me begin with you. What appearances did she skip out on, and how many appearances did she skip out on?
LEWIS: More than I could name off the top of my head, tens and tens and tens. So, she was unavailable. She didn’t want to make them. She didn’t want to make any appearances in Hollywood. She was just really difficult to work with.
CHEN: What was her excuse? What would she say?
LEWIS: Well, different things at different times, from I’ve got other commitments to I’m not just Miss Hollywood. I need to be other things and making other things in the state.
I think the important thing is the fact that we came to a meeting of the minds in New York. We said we were putting it behind us. We were moving forward. We were going to get back on track. And that was really far from what happened.
CHEN: In your history of working with the Miss California organization, is that not typical behavior for a Miss California to miss as many appearances as you say she missed?
LEWIS: Yes. It was a combatative relationship. It was just very difficult for us. We tried to meet halfway, and it was obvious that wasn’t going to happen. And finally, there was a point where the organization really had to stand up and say, you know what, it’s time for us to move on and get back to the business of beauty.
And Mr. Trump agreed with us. He’s the one that came forward and said, go ahead and give her her walking papers.
CHEN: Keith, have you heard from her since she got fired? What has she said?
LEWIS: No. We deal through attorneys. So, it’s appropriate for the attorneys.
CHEN: Have you heard from her attorney?
LEWIS: Pardon me?
CHEN: Have you heard from her attorney, then?
LEWIS: I think my attorney has heard from her attorney, yes.
CHEN: And what was said?
LEWIS: Well, her attorney is also the general counsel for the National Organization for Marriage, which was kind of what created this controversy, when she went out and began doing some public appearances for them. So, I think that, you know, we need to keep everything in perspective. We…
CHEN: Is she going to fight this? Is she going to try to get her title back, do you know?
LEWIS: I don’t think she ever really wanted to have the title afterwards because that wasn’t consistent with her behavior. I think if you tell your boss, I’m not going to do the job, I’m going to do whatever I want, you can’t tell me what I’m going to do, I think that you expect that your boss is going to say to you, you know what, you’re probably not supposed to be in this job anymore.
CHEN: Well, now in the job is Tami. Tami, let me turn to you. How excited are you to be the new Miss California?
FARRELL: I’m really excited. I’m honored to be representing the state of California. I mean, this is the first time in ten years that the Miss California pageant is actually going to be televised. So, I think this is a great opportunity.
CHEN: How are you going to handle your duties differently than we saw Carrie Prejean, Tami?
FARRELL: Well, you know, I think people forget. A month ago I was named the beauty ambassador for our state, and I’ve actually started doing several appearances since last month, appearances that she was unavailable to do. So, I think I’m just going to make myself available to Keith and to the program. And there’s a lot of charities that I’m passionate about. So, I’m excited to work with them.
LEWIS: And Julie, she’s…
CHEN: Good for you.
LEWIS: … she’s a former previous national title holder. She was Miss Teen USA, so she intimately knows what the responsibilities are in this role.
CHEN: Good. Keith, in the final seconds, all this publicity over Carrie Prejean, is it going to end up helping her at the end of the day, even getting fired?
LEWIS: I think Carrie Prejean will be successful in what she decides to put her mind towards, and I think also the pageant will be successful because the pageant has raised awareness on this program and Miss USA and another three years, so…
CHEN: Yes. It certainly has gotten a lot of attention for you guys. Keith Lewis, Tami Farrell, thank you both. And Tami, congratulations.
FARRELL: Thank you so much.
LEWIS: Thank you.
CHEN: You’re welcome.
END
Pictured above: In this Monday, May 11, 2009 file photo, Miss California USA state pageant’s runner-up, Tami Farrell, listens during a news conference in Beverly Hills, Calif. Donald Trump issued a statement Wednesday, June 10, 2009 saying he had fired Miss California
Carrie Prejean for failing to honor her commitments as Miss California USA, and pageant officials say Tami Farrell will take over those responsibilities.(AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, file) .
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Comments
To Tonia, the previous commentor: Did you read the email trainscripts between “your role model” and Mr. Lewis before you made this comment, in effect, wanting your children to be like her? If you read the emails written by “your role model” you’ll see it had NOTHING to do with her opinion about gay marriage. She was refusing to show up at appearances, telling Mr. Lewis that she would be running the show. That she, and she alone would go through the list of appearances and pick what she wanted to show up for and which ones she didn’t. If that’s what you teach your children, how to disrespect your employer and act like a pompus “A hole”, then I feel sorry for them. I wouldn’t want my child to grow up with a holier than thou attitude. It seems like she thinks she’s God.. If beauty were from the inside, as it is so many times declared to be, then Carrie Prejean is an ugly, ugly woman! who needs to learn some manners and that when you are supposed to go to work, you need to show up-and stop blaming it on an opinion you had that, while controversial, was NOT THE REASON SHE GOT FIRED!
GiGi
owner of several businesses… and thank fully respectful employees!
I think you should be shame of yourself! Carrie Prejean was a wonderful role model for the state of California.I teach my children to always tell the truth and that is what she did.I also teach my children to RESPECT others view even if there views are not the same. I think you and some others need to learn this. That judge was wrong for calling her dumb b. because her views aren’t the same as his! SHAMEFUL!!