Miss USA, Miss Universe in shambles

Donald Trump and Miss Universe 2014 Paulina Vega

Hello, folks! You probably have heard the news. Miss USA​ and Miss Universe are in shambles. 

Things started falling apart shortly after Donald Trump, owner of Miss Universe, announced his US presidential bid. During his announcement speech, he laid out his stance on immigration reform.

"When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best," he said. "They’re sending people that have lots of problems and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists."

Trump's anti-Mexican immigrants tirades had been strongly criticized by Latin immigrants and Latin countries.

How did his words affect Miss USA and Miss Universe? Please read on.

MISS USA AND MISS UNIVERSE BROADCAST CANCELLED

NBC ended its business relationships with Trump -- which meant canceling the upcoming telecast of the Miss USA pageant and next year's telecast of Miss Universe. Trump was also fired as the host of The Apprentice.

Univision, the Spanish language broadcaster of Miss USA in the US, also canceled the pageants’ broadcast.

The good news: Cable and satellite network Reelz stepped in and announced they will broadcast Miss USA saying “this special event, and the women who compete in it, are an integral part of American tradition.”

JUDGES, HOSTS, PERFORMERS, AND SPONSORS WITHDREW FROM MISS USA AND MISS UNIVERSE

Program hosts Cheryl Burke, who’s part Filipino, and MSNBC anchor Thomas Roberts have bowed out of Miss USA

Co-host Jeannie Mai who has been part of the Miss USA and Miss Universe shows for five years has stepped down

Rapper Flo Rida, “The Voice” winner Craig Wayne Boyd, and pop singer Natalie La Rose confirmed they will no longer perform for Miss USA

Miss USA judges HGTV star Jonathan Scott, E! News anchor Terrence Jenkins, TV host and former Miss Universe winner Zuleyka Rivera and Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith all pulled out of the competition

Long-time sponsor Farouk Systems, makers of CHI and Biosilk, formally announced its withdrawal of its sponsorship of the Miss USA, Miss Universe, and Miss Teen USA pageants

NATIONAL FRANCHISES CANCELLED PARTICIPATION IN THE PAGEANT

The Miss Panama organization and the Telemetro television channel announced that they won't participate in or broadcast the Miss Universe contest this year

Mexico and Costa Rica have pulled its contestants out of the Miss Universe pageant

Bogota, Colombia withdrew its candidacy to host Miss Universe

MISS UNIVERSE 2014 PAULINA VEGA ASKED TO STEP DOWN

Miss Universe 2014 Paulina Vega, who hails from Colombia, called Trump’s comments “unjust and hurtful.” How Trump reacted to Paulina's sober retort was far from surprising. He called her a "hypocrite."

Trump’s Twitter account @realDonaldTrump tweeted “Miss Universe, Paulina Vega, criticized me for telling the truth about illegal immigration, but then said she would keep the crown-Hypocrite”

Pressure on Paulina Vega to quit has increased over the past several days.

For our readers based in the US, do you support Trump’s stance on immigration?

Do you agree with the backlash Miss Universe Organization has been receiving after Trump’s comments?  

How does this affect our candidate Miss Universe Philippines Pia Wurtzbach’s bid to bring home the next Miss Universe Crown?

Share your thoughts. Cheers! :)