Miss USA Defended After Fans ‘Misconstrued’ Her Remarks On Miss Cambodia: ‘It’s A Smear Campaign’
Sarah Rose Summers has found herself on the negative side of a media firestorm after video footage showed her speaking about her fellow contestants. Fans claim she spoke offensively, but her friends say it’s all a misunderstanding.
Miss USA, Sarah Rose Summers, 24, is facing harsh backlash over comments she made in a now viral video about her fellow contestants, Miss Cambodia Rern Sinat and Miss Vietnam H’Hen Nie. Summers is being accused of reciting offensive remarks about the two women not understanding English. However, two friends of hers tell HollywoodLife.com the controversy is all part of a “smear campaign,” and that Summers “doesn’t have a mean bone in her body.”
In video footage surfacing online, the Nebraska native was captured speaking about Miss Cambodia and Miss Vietnam, along with Miss Colombia Valeria Morales‘ and Miss Australia Francesca Hung. The video was reportedly with captured by Morales on Instagram Live.
“What do you think of Miss Vietnam Nie?” Summers asked the women in the video. “She’s so cute and she pretends to know so much English and then you ask her a question after having a whole conversation with her and she goes [nods and smiles],” Summers said before laughing. “She’s adorable.”
Summers continued: “Miss Cambodia is here and doesn’t speak any English and not a single other person speaks her language. Can you imagine?” she asked. “Francesca said that would be so isolating and I said yes and just confusing all the time.”
“Poor Cambodia,” she added.
Summers has since apologized publicly for her comments. She posted a photo of herself, Hung, and Morales, all hugging Sinat and H’Hen Nie on Instagram, with a lengthy caption. “Miss Universe is an opportunity for women from around the world to learn about each other’s cultures, life experiences, and views. We all come from different backgrounds and can grow alongside one another,” she wrote.
“In a moment where I intended to admire the courage of a few of my sisters, I said something that I now realize can be perceived as not respectful, and I apologize. My life, friendships, and career revolve around me being a compassionate and empathetic woman. I would never intend to hurt another. I am grateful for opportunities to speak with Nat, Miss Cambodia, and H’Hen, Miss Vietnam, directly about this experience. These are the moments that matter most to me,” Summers concluded.
Things seem to be just fine between Summers and her fellow contestants, despite the public backlash. A video (as seen below) from a fan page shows the women sharing a sweet embrace amidst the controversy. And, Miss Vietnam H’Hen Nie, herself posted the same photo (as seen above) that Summers did, writing that they’re all family.
“We all did the great job on the stage tonight! Sleep well and tomorrow will be brighter, my girls. Hugs and kisses. We are a family,” Miss Vietnam wrote.
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