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Ex-Miss California Prejean, pageant settle lawsuit

Staff and wire reports • November 5, 2009

The legal war between former Miss California USA Carrie Prejean and pageant organizers is over.


A joint statement released Tuesday said Prejean and the organizers of the pageant reached a confidential settlement on dueling lawsuits.

CNN and gossip Web site TMZ.com both reported Wednesday that the settlement was reached after the pageant's lawyers presented a home video showing Prejean engaging in a sexual activity. Prejean was alone in the video, both CNN and TMZ reported.

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Prejean sued Miss California USA organizers in August for libel, slander and religious discrimination. She accused them of telling her to stop mentioning God even before her controversial remarks against gay marriage.

Prejean was fired in June after pageant officials accused her of missing events, an allegation that she denied. The pageant countersued Prejean last month.

The statement released Tuesday said Prejean and the pageant “wish each other the best in their future endeavors.”

The next Miss California USA will be crowned Nov. 22 at The Show at Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa in Rancho Mirage.

The televised pageant will feature a number of changes from previous years, including more contestants and the crowning of two winners.

Keith Lewis, the pageant's executive director, told The Desert Sun last month that the decision to crown two winners was a result of the controversy surrounding Prejean.

“That was prompted through the lessons and the trials and tribulations of this year,” he said. “This year has made us aware that that was a necessity.”

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