Miss Puerto Rico 2015 Destiny Vélez Suspended for Anti-Muslim Rhetoric on Twitter
- Ma. Elena
- Dec 21, 2015 06:00 AM EST
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Miss Puerto Rico 2015 Destiny Vélez has been indefinitely suspended by the Miss America Organization for her anti-Muslim statements on Twitter.
"In regards to Miss Puerto Rico, Destiny Vélez'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," according to a statement released on Saturday on the organization's official Facebook page. "Miss Vélez'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."
Vélez, 20, launched an anti-Muslim tirade after director Michael Moore's one-man protest outside the NYC-based Trump Tower owned by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.
A lengthy open letter was published by the "Where to Invade Next" filmmaker on his official site, which can be read here. Moore's protest inspired the hashtag "WeAreAllMuslim" on social media, with many others signing the statement in support.
The former beauty queen sent a series of tweets directed to Moore, seemingly siding with Trump's Islamophobic remarks. Vélez's Twitter account has been removed, but the AJC obtained a screenshot of the posts. Check it out here.
Vélez wrote: "Islamic god is NOT the same God of the Christians & the Jews," adding, "Muslims use our constitution to terrorize USA & plant gas stations."
"All what Muslims have done is provided oil & terrorize this country & many others," the brunette beauty said in another tweet.
She continued: "There's NO comparison between Jews, Christians & Muslims. Jews nor Christians have terrorizing agendas in their sacred books."
Vélez's tweets have resulted to a fiery backlash, with many Twitter users calling her a bully with the hashtag #nonosrepresentas, a Spanish phrase which translates to "you don't represent us," Daily Mail reported.
In a statement issued through the organization's Facebook page, Vélez sent out a public apology that read: "I apologize to the people I have offended with my words. 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."
Vélez didn't place in the top 15 in September's Miss America 2016 beauty pageant that was won by Miss Georgia Betty Cantrell, Daily Mail wrote. Aside from Twitter, Vélez also took down her Instagram and Tumblr pages.
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