Black Voicesracial slurmiss teen usaBlack Voices

Twitter Calls Out Miss Teen USA For Using N-Word In Old Tweets

Winner Karlie May says she's a different person today but that wasn't enough for Twitter.
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By 

Black Voices Editor, HuffPost

The newly crowned Miss Teen USA came under fire for reportedly tweeting a racial slur multiple times about three years ago.

Shortly after Texas teen Karlie Hay’s win at the competition in Las Vegas on Saturday, Twitter users blasted her for repeatedly using the n-word on what seems to be a personal account between 2013 and 2014. Users shared screenshots of the offensive tweets from an account, which is now private, with her name and photo.

The 18-year-old made a statement of apology on her Instagram and Twitter accounts.

“Several years ago, I had many personal struggles and found myself in a place that is not representative of who I am as a person,” Hay wrote. “I admit that I have used language publicly in the past which I am not proud of and that there is no excuse for. Through hard work, education and thanks in large part to the sisterhood that I have come to know through pageants, I am proud to say that I am today a better person.”

The Miss Universe Organization responded to the backlash in a statement to ABC 13.

“As Karlie stated, she was in a different place in her life and made a serious mistake she regrets and for which she sincerely apologizes,” the statement read. The organization condemned Hay’s language but showed its support for Hay by saying it is “committed to supporting her continued growth.”

Neither of the statements satisfied social media users, especially given that the organization had been called out earlier for the top five pageant finalists being blonde-hair, blue-eyed white teens. Twitter users didn’t hold back, as some felt Hay deserved to face a harsher consequence.

It’s unlikely that Hay will lose her crown, but since Miss Teen USA women are “savvy, goal-oriented and aware,” according to their website, it will be interesting to see what social justice endeavors she takes on with her newfound self.

H/T CNN

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Before You Go

Fighting Racism And Discrimination Everyday
Bullying(01 of12)
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Even kids who share the same identity -- be it racial or gender -- can be guilty of bullying and discrimination against each other. Ontario's Ministry of Education defines bullying as "a form of repeated, persistent, and aggressive behaviour directed at an individual or individuals that is intended to cause (or should be known to cause) fear and distress and/or harm to another person's body, feelings, self-esteem, or reputation." (credit:Alamy)
Cyberbullying (02 of12)
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Social media can be a platform for bullying to continue even after school is out. Cyberbullying occurs when young people take malicious actions online. through chat rooms, email, social sites and instant messaging. (credit:Getty Images)
Stock Answer To 'What Are You?'(03 of12)
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"You don't need to go into full confessional mode, but have fun with it, if that helps. Or be perfectly honest," author Jonathan R. Miller said. Miller writes e-books with multi-ethnic characters and themes. You don't have to talk about all the nuances of your family tree every time you're asked about your background, he said. That can be exhausting. Find something that works for you personally. (credit:Shutterstock)
Real Answer To 'What Are You?'(04 of12)
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"I like the word 'mixed' because it's a messy word, and in my experience growing up mixed is exactly that," Miller said. He suggests that it's important to allow yourself to truly wrestle with questions of identity in environments you consider safe. (credit:Shutterstock)
A Friend To Confide In(05 of12)
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If you are struggling with your identity, you don't have to tell the whole world, but confide in a friend that you trust. Having someone to confide in is important. "If you can, find someone who you can talk to about your most honest, ever-evolving, often-messy answer to the question, 'What am I?'" Miller said. (credit:Getty Images)
If You Can't Speak, Write(06 of12)
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"Maybe you don't have anyone trustworthy to talk to honestly about your experiences. Write about them. It helped me, sometimes, to get those out," Miller said.It may not make a lot of sense initially and it might feel uncomfortably personal, but write. Keep a journal, write short stories and rename the characters, try your hand at poetry -- whatever feels best. (credit:Shutterstock)
Let Your Identity Be An Open Question(07 of12)
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"You are likely being told at different times, more or less, to hurry up and get off the fence, pick a side and get on with it," Miller said. It's not necessarily a bad thing to be unsure of who you are, even if your peers seem to have their acts together, he said. Teenage years are discovery years. Miller also quoted author Rainer Maria Rilke: "'Have patience with everything that remains unsolved in your heart. ... Live in the question.' That's good advice. Difficult to follow, but good." (credit:Shutterstock)
Embrace The Chameleon(08 of12)
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When it comes to mixed heritage, "you don't have to be 'both' or 'other' or 'all of the above' all of the time. Sometimes the only way to figure out what you are is to choose one thing and be it for a while," Miller said.Explore how it feels to fully embrace a single aspect of your identity, for short period of time. See "what stick and what slides off." It's simply learning, Miller said. (credit:Shutterstock)
Don't Be Afraid To Abandon The Labels Altogether(09 of12)
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"I can't tell you how many multi-racial people I've met who have chosen a single race or ignored race entirely and been perfectly content with the decision. A biracial friend of mine used to tell me, 'I'm black and white, yes, but I'm black. Period,'" Miller said. He said he knows many people have chosen to identify with only one aspect of their multi-background, while others have embraced the blend. (credit:Shutterstock)
Get Involved In Life(10 of12)
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Find creative ways to occupy your time, Miller said. Join a group or do an activity (with others) where you are empowered to be who you are, instead of having to act how others think you need to be in order to fit in. (credit:Getty Images)
Be Proud Of Who You Are(11 of12)
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Take pride in your ethnic (culture, color or religion) heritage. You have no control over your heritage, and you can't change that fact that this is who you are. So embrace it and learn as much as you can. "You may feel like it would be an insult to your heritage to embrace one aspect of yourself above the others, but trust me, it wouldn't be. This is important: it is not your job to uphold, with perfect equity and grace, all of the elements that went into your making," Miller said. (credit:Shutterstock)
Have A Ready Defense Against The Identity Police(12 of12)
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"Often they're the 'gatekeepers' that decide whether you're 'in' or 'out.' But what you can do is have a ready answer for the 'charges' they level against you. Whether you use humour, earnestness, or self-righteous anger, it helps to have your defense lined up and ready," Miller said. Sometimes people think all the "members" of their cultural or ethnic community must behave, dress and think a certain way. But as an individual, you can do whatever you want and find your own identity. (credit:Getty Images)
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