Miss USA hosts walk out on Trump, Asian/Americans refuse to do the show

Cheryl Burke

FIRST, Filipina American Cheryl Burke decided not to host the Miss USA Pageant. She was joined by cohost Robert Thomas. 

A few days later, her other co-host, Jeannie Mai, made a similar decision.

Burke, who shot to fame as a professional dancer in Dancing With The Stars, issued this statement:

"In light of the recent statements made by Donald Trump and the subsequent decision by NBC to cut ties with Mr. Trump, I cannot in good conscience move forward with participating in this year’s Miss USA Pageant as its co-host. Effective today I have withdrawn from my duties with Miss USA. Although I will not be there in person, I wish all of the contestants much luck as I know how hard they’ve all been working over the last year to try and realize their dreams."

Since declaring his candidacy for president, Trump has been making the headlines with outlandish statements attacking immigrants, Mexicans and Mexican/Americans.

Burke's departure comes on the same day that NBC said it would air an "American Ninja Warrior" special on the night it was originally scheduled to air Miss USA, tonight (June 12).

Mai, who is a cohost of the television show The Real, decided to drop out after originally stating she would stay with the Miss USA show.

"Last week I announced my heart-felt decision to support the women of Miss USA by remaining on board as a co-host," Mai wrote. "My focus was strictly on the women involved, who share the same ethics of hard work, commitment and passion for their careers and causes that I do. I have co-hosted for the last five years various Miss Universe events, and I'm grateful for the many women I've met and friends I've made along the way. I feel terrible that the women competing this year have fallen victim to current events. 

Jeannie Mai

"Let me be clear, I condemn the recent words of Mr. Trump, and find them immensely offensive. At the time I made my decision to remain part of the Miss USA pageant, I was under the impression that Mr. Trump would no longer be involved in the production of the show in any capacity whatsoever. In addition, given Mr. Trump's ongoing antics, including his most recent episode today with the current Miss Universe, it is clear that Mr. Trump's actions have and will continue to distract focus away from the real stars of the show -- the women involved in the pageant. 

"Therefore, I am respectfully withdrawing from my responsibilities and commitment as co-host of Miss USA. From the beginning, I announced publicly that I was donating my compensation to a worthy charity. Although I will no longer be participating as a co-host, I still want to support the women competing in the pageant. I feel the best way to show that is to lend my support to this year's winner of Miss USA and to make the donation I promised to her platform and charity.

Last Monday night, Mai announced on Instagram, "I am respectfully withdrawing from my responsibilities and commitment as co-host of Miss USA." Mai also stated, "I feel terrible that the women competing this year have fallen victim to current events."

Trump has been under fire for comments made during his presidential announcement speech. 

"When Mexico sends its people, they're not sending their best," he said. "They're not sending you. 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. And some, I assume, are good people." 

Following the speech, Univision, NBCUniversal and Macy's decided to cut business ties with Trump. Univision and NBCUniversal announced that they will not air the Miss USA pageants. NBCUniversal, the parent company of NBC, NBC News and Telemundo were part of a joint venture with Trump. Macy's also followed suit and said it will discontinue its relationship with Trump and discontinue his men's clothing line at the store. 

Donald Trump in last year's finale of "Celebrity Apprentice."

Trump is holding fast to his original statements. He fired back by stating, "Clearly, NBC and Macy's support illegal immigration, which is totally detrimental to the fabric of our once great country."

Trump, who inherited his wealth, enlarged his real estate fortune by building apartments, condominiums, golf courses and buying some casinos. He became a personality as the host of the TV reality show Celebrity Apprentice, also on NBC. 

Immediately after Trump announced his candidacy, all we got from NBC was this wish-washy statement: “We will re-evaluate Trump’s role as host of Celebrity Apprentice should it become necessary, as we are committed to this franchise.”

After a couple of weeks, NBC and Trump apparently came to a mutual agreement that Celebrity Apprentice would not air this coming season ... or at least, until Trump drops out of the presidential race.

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