The CEO of the Miss America Organisation has been suspended after emails leaked allegedly showing him degrading and mocking contestants.

Fallout has been swift after the Huffington Post published emails in which Sam Haskell was said to have used crude language to deride former contestants, and to comment on their weight.

In a statement, the organisation’s board said it had voted to suspend Mr Haskell while it conducts “an indepth investigation into alleged inappropriate communications and the nature in which they were obtained”.

“In addition, the board wishes to reaffirm our commitment to the education and empowerment of young women, supporting them in any way possible,” the statement added.

Mr Haskell responded by saying the claims were “unkind and untrue”.

“The material is based on private emails that were stolen three years ago by ex-employees,” he wrote. “The story is so unkind and untrue, and hurts me, my family and the stewardship of this nonprofit.

“Those who know my heart know that this is not indicative of my character, nor is it indicative of my business acumen.”

A petition calling for Mr Haskell to resign, organised by former Miss North Carolina Jennifer Vaden Barth, had gathered nearly 50 signatures from former Miss Americas by mid-afternoon, according to The Washington Post.

“We are deeply disturbed and saddened to learn of the sickening and egregious words used by Miss America leadership,” the petition reportedly read. “We collectively call for their immediate resignation.”

A former contestant Mr Haskell was described as mocking, Mallory Hagan, said in a video posted to Twitter that she felt vindicated by the story.

Pageant official quits over Miss California move Show all 18 1 /18 Pageant official quits over Miss California move Pageant official quits over Miss California move First runner up to Miss California USA 2009 Tami Farrell (left), who will be taking on some of the responsibilities of the role following the controversy, and Miss California Teen USA 2009 Chelsea Gilligan Reuters Pageant official quits over Miss California move Carrie Prejean, the original winner of the Miss California competition now mired in controversy, appears in the swimsuit portion of the Miss USA Pageant at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas Reuters Pageant official quits over Miss California move Miss California USA Pageant executive director Shanna Moakler (L) and first runner up to Miss California USA 2009 Tami Farrell Getty Pageant official quits over Miss California move Miss California Carrie Prejean competes in the evening gown portion of the pageant. Reuters Pageant official quits over Miss California move New Miss California and former Miss Teen USA 2003 Tami Farrell arrives at the Fashion Rocks the Universe! fashion show at the Hawaiian Tropic Zone inside the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in April Getty Pageant official quits over Miss California move Carrie Prejean competes in the swimsuit portion Reuters Pageant official quits over Miss California move Miss California USA Teen 2009 Chelsea Gilligan, Miss California USA Pageant executive directors Shanna Moakler and Keith Lewis and first runner up to Miss California USA 2009 Tami Farrell attend a Miss California USA Pageant press conference yesterday. Pageant officials criticized Miss California USA Carrie Prejean for having posed for pictures in her underwear and making public appearances with groups opposed to same-sex marriage. Getty Pageant official quits over Miss California move First runner up to Miss California USA 2009 Tami Farrell attends a Miss California USA Pageant press conference Getty Pageant official quits over Miss California move Tami Farrell Getty Pageant official quits over Miss California move Tami Farrell, first runner-up to Miss California USA 2009, attends a news conference in Beverly Hills Reuters Pageant official quits over Miss California move First runner up to Miss California USA 2009 Tami Farrell (L), who is to assume some of the winning contestant's responsibilities, and Miss California Teen USA 2009 Chelsea Gilligan Getty Pageant official quits over Miss California move Tami Farrell Getty Pageant official quits over Miss California move Tami Farrell at the press conference Pageant official quits over Miss California move Tami Farrell Getty Pageant official quits over Miss California move Miss California Carrie Prejean delivering her now infamous answer to the question of gay marriage to pageant hosts Billy Bush and Nadine Velazquez Reuters Pageant official quits over Miss California move Miss California Teen USA 2009 Chelsea Gilligan (L) and first runner up to Miss California USA 2009 Tami Farrell attend a Miss California USA Pageant press conference Getty Pageant official quits over Miss California move First runner up to Miss California USA 2009 Tami Farrell (L) and Miss California Teen USA 2009 Chelsea Gilligan Getty Pageant official quits over Miss California move First runner up to Miss California USA 2009 Tami Farrell attends a Miss California USA Pageant press conference Getty

“I’ve felt very strongly about these things last couple of years and just didn’t have any way to prove they were happening and now that I do have proof…just feels pretty validating,” she said.

Production company Dick Clark Productions severed ties in response to the report, saying in a statement the company had become aware of some of the emails referenced in the Huffington Post piece months earlier.