Allison Drake: Miss Texas USA faces backlash for making an 'antisemitic remark' against fellow contestant
HOUSTON, TEXAS: Just days after being crowned, the new Miss Texas USA has drawn criticism for reportedly making an antisemitic" remark. When her statement surfaced online, some activists began to wonder why she had not faced any consequences and why the Miss USA organization had not taken any action.
Allison Drake, the second runner-up in the Miss Texas USA competition, was named the winner on Friday, February 4, after the first runner-up reportedly backed out, leaving the post open. Lizzy Savetsky, a Jewish influencer, exposed Drake for reportedly making an offensive joke about the Holocaust to a fellow contender in a video she shared with her almost 225,000 followers.
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'Anne Frank coming out of Holocaust'
Drake's comment was shared on a fellow contestant's Instagram story. Her comment was, "@alliejdrake gives me the best compliment. 'You look like Anne Frank coming out of the Holocaust' Lmaooo. Proud of you."
In a Tiktok video, Savetsky argued that the remark was an irresponsible use of the contestant's and organization's platform. "As a former pageant girl, I was third runner-up to Miss Teen Texas in 2002, I know that that title comes with a lot of responsibility. When you enter a pageant and you win a crown, you become a role model," she said.
"Young girls look up to you. You have to be so cautious and calculated with the messages that you put out there and whether or not you like it, you have profound influence on impressionable minds. This was an extremely irresponsible use of a platform by someone who is proudly smiling and wearing a crown, not to mention the fact that so much of what she said was not only hateful and ignorant, but just not factual," Savetsky continued.
@lizzysavetsky #antisemitism #stopantisemitism #holocaust #endjewhatred #jewsoftiktok #jewslifesmatter #jewsofny #stopthehate #missusa #misstxusa #misstexasusa #missuniverse #outraged #nohate #nohatespeech #horrific #texas #texasgirl #texasnews #houston #houstontx #houstontexas #houstonnews #news ♬ original sound - Lizzy Savetsky
Miss Texas USA steps in
In a statement, the Miss Texas USA organization said, "The Miss Texas USA organization and Miss Universe Organization are aware of an antisemitic comment that was posted on social media in July 2022, alleging that it was made by Allison Drake. Per sworn affidavit, this comment was not made by our current Miss Texas USA, Allison Drake. The Miss Texas USA organization denounces and condemns antisemitism, racism, bigotry and all forms of discrimination," as per ABC News.
Savetsky stated that the Miss Texas USA Organization could have used the issue as a teaching moment, regardless of whether Drake truly made the statements. In an Instgram post, she wrote, "As a former pageant girl and a Jewish mother to two impressionable young ladies, I am outraged by @misstxusa’s crowning of Allie Drake, making a role model out of a woman accused of making the most despicable, dangerous Holocaust joke. The organization has denied any wrongdoing and Allie denies making the joke. They believe denial will undo the damage. But the damage has been done. I would love to see the organization take some responsibility for the permanence of this antisemitic message and use it as a teaching moment through required Holocaust education for its contestants. I would love to see them take a stand against rising antisemitism and the violent hate crimes against Jews that are ever-growing."