Miss Puerto Rico 2015 Destiny Velez Under Fire After Launching Offensive Anti-Muslim Twitter Rant; Pageant Organization Indefinitely Suspends Beauty Queen
Miss Puerto Rico 2015 Destiny Velez is currently under fire after launching an offensive series of anti-Muslim rant on Twitter. She has also been indefinitely suspended from her role by the official Miss America organization.
The netizens were left baffled after Velez launched an offensive anti-Muslim outburst on Twitter on Thursday, Dec. 17. According to CNN, the 20-year-old beauty queen, who competed in this year's Miss America contest, sent a series of tweets to filmmaker Michael Moore, who started the "We are all Muslim" campaign online.
"Muslims use our constitution to terrorize USA & plant gas stations," Velez's original tweet read. "There's NO comparison between Jews, Christians & Muslims. Jews nor Christians have terrorizing agendas in their sacred books. And all what Muslims have done is provided oil & terrorize this country & many others!!!!!!"
"If we are all the same then Muslims need to take off their napkins off of their heads cuz I feel offended by it," she added.
Velez's tweets immediately ignited a major social media backlash with several Twitter users calling her a "bully" with the hashtag #nonosrepresentas, which was translated as "you don't represent us," Daily Mail reported.
Velez's inappropriate and offensive tweets have led to her indefinite suspension, as written on the official statement released by Miss America Organization on Saturday.
"In regards to Miss Puerto Rico, Destiny Velez's, recent actions and conduct; the Miss Puerto Rico Organization feels that her words do not represent the integrity and esteem of our program, nor that of our board members, our sponsors and partners, or the National Organization," the organization's statement read. "Miss Velez's actions were in contradiction to the organization, and therefore as a consequence of her actions, she has been suspended indefinitely. The Miss Puerto Rico Organization will not tolerate any actions or behavior contrary to the Miss Puerto Rico Organization."
Velez also released a public apology.
"I apologize to the people I have offended with my words," Velez said, as per Huffington Post. "I am first and foremost an #UpStander and as such I stand up against bullying. The last thing I wanted to do was to bully anyone. Again, I apologize to anyone who felt offended with my words."
Meanwhile, Velez represented Puerto Rico during the Miss America 2016 competition in September. She placed at the top 15 semifinalists. The crown was won by Betty Cantrell of Georgia. As for director Moore, his "We are all Muslim" campaign was aimed at Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump after he called a ban on all Muslims to enter the United States.
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