ABOUT allDAY

allDAY is the official TODAY blog, your virtual window to Studio 1A and the people who make America's favorite morning show come alive. Whether it's exchanging views with the anchors and contributors or going behind the scenes with the producers, editors, camera people and more, we'll bring you the buzz here at 30 Rock, and we hope you will make this a regular part of your online routine. We want this to be a conversation, so please respond with your comments and questions directly to the blog, and we'll do our best to post what you have to say.



Live From Studio 1A: Miss New Jersey Revealed

Posted: Thursday, July 12, 2007 9:00 AM by Dan Fleschner
Filed Under:

On Monday, the recently-crowned Miss New Jersey, Amy Polumbo, appeared on TODAY to discuss what she called a blackmail attempt. She described how over the past two weeks, pageant officials had received two packages containing photos of Polumbo taken from her Facebook page. A letter from the anonymous sender demanded that if Polumbo didn't give up her crown, the photos would be made public.

This morning, Polumbo returned to TODAY to show the photos. WATCH VIDEO She and her lawyer said they are confident that pageant officials will not force her to give up her crown -- a decision is expected later today.

Now that you've seen some of the photos, what do you think Miss Polumbo's fate should be?

Were the photos as racy as you thought they would be?

What do you think this says about our social networking culture in which people put potentially embarrassing photos on the Internet?

And do you have a theory about who may have sent the packages to the pageant officials?

MAIN PAGE

Email this EMAIL THIS

Comments

I think the photos are of her having a good time with friends.  Are we suppose to live in a glass house and do nothing with our lives.

Sharon Land (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 9:16 AM)

Oh my goodness...leave this poor girl alone!  Those photos are typical college behavior.  I applaude her bravery for showing them.

Sue, UP, Michigan (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 9:16 AM)

Wow, if we are now judging this wonderful girl by those innocent funloving photo's we are in bad shape as a society. On one hand we look for any sick news on stars and their lives, watch videos and movies with much more nudity rated PG 13 I would say based on this her photos  they are G rated general audience and have should have no affect on her live. Really pagents should get a handle on what they think about life.

sherry Sarasota Florida (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 9:18 AM)

You go Amy, you are beautiful, playful and articulate; probably in a country that sponsors terrorist, these pictures would be burned, and a reason to abuse woman.  God Bless America Louise

Louise , Roselle, NJ (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 9:18 AM)

The photos are typical "college".  Everyone who attended college has pictures just like these, maybe worse.  Ms. Polumbo did nothing wrong and I was sad to hear her apologize for making a "mistake" for having fun with her friends.

Mary Adams, Cleveland, OH (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 9:22 AM)

I am very upset about this subject.  We are all human. I am a 57-year-old grandmother, businesswoman and a minister in my relegion.  My comment is those who are overseeing the decision of yea or nay for Miss New Jersey, sould look to their own "party times" at a young age.  My reaction to the photos was
"how silly".  Friends and parties.  The American Dream for college students of today.  They are not in bad taste as far as a black mark for this young woman and I do not believe young people think that.  My belief is that those who are behind this blackmail incident should be hung, not Miss NH.
With peace to all,
LYNN

Lynn Kent, Warren, RI (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 9:26 AM)

The photos are typical of today's American youth and should not cost her her crown. I'm glad she didn't succumb to the blackmail. YOU GO GIRL!!

Carrie Dorsey, Washington DC (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 9:28 AM)

As a parent of two college grads, I know that "good kids" have their crazy side.  My daughter is on facebook, and they both have myspace accounts.  A lot of those pictures can be racy....but, we were ALL that way, outgoing, silly, and a little crazy when we were 18-22. , and those of us in our 40's were raised in a much more conservative environment.  TV and pop culture is laden with criminal and promiscuous innuendos, yet we think our "role models" should be stoic wall flowers who have never stepped out of line.  It is sad that Miss N.J. felt she had to apologize for being a traditional college student.  She reminds me of my daughter and almost every other college student  I've met.  I hope she takes the crown!  Good Luck Amy!

A.E. Knapp, Springfield, Ohio (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 9:28 AM)

Unfortunately, one of her "best friends" as she referred to them, probably sent the photos.

Carrie Dorsey, Washington DC (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 9:30 AM)

I think this is all just rediculous.  Nobody should be put under such constraints as to have to be imbarrassed for having fun with friends and enjoying harmless private moments cought in photos.  She shouldn't be ashamed of putting little pumpkins in front of her chest... how many young ladies haven't put objects near their breasts to make them look bigger for fun?  Making these pageant girls look impossibly innocent and perfect makes all of the other girls out there feel like something is wrong with them for being silly and enjoying a sense of humor.... nothing is further from the truth!  God gave us a sense of humor in order to deal with life!  Use it... officials!  She is obviously a well spoken, intelligent and happy young lady who will be extremely successful in life.  Let her be an example to all girls out there, or stunt her ability to inspire and help girls to be all they can by pushing this silly issue further.

Amy, St. Petersburg, FL (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 9:32 AM)

These were PRIVATE photos!! While this was on, I turned away from the tv. WHO CARES WHAT THEY SHOW? I hope Miss N.J. can and will get passed this and go on with her life.

Becky Johnson, Pueblo, Co (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 9:43 AM)

While it's crazy that Amy had to do it at all, I think it was a great move for her to reveal the photos. To me, they were of a young, fun-loving girl doing what 95% of young women do. Leave her alone. And may the pathetic person who sent the photos in find a real life to live instead of trying to destroy someone else's.

The lesson here shouldn't be that she should curb her enthusiasm for silliness and fun, but to be aware that anything posted on the internet is accessible to people.

Jen, Chicago, IL (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 9:47 AM)

The person who is blackmailing Ms. New Jersey should be dropped on their head!  Those pictures show a girl in college having a good time. Obviously, this person never went to college, had no friends, or didn't have any social life during that time because those pictures are so mild. I feel for her and hope they nab the the small minded person who must not have anything better to do.

Teresa Sandner, Alpine, Wy (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 9:48 AM)

I think there should be a law against black mail, and the people responsible should be punished to the full extent of the law, what are these people trying to achieve by doing this, as far as i can see those fool's did'nt do much, all they did was show a typical american collage girl having fun, if you ask me, I think it's pretty dumb to use clean photos for black mail. I'm proud of you Amy, keep doing what your doing because you didn't do nothing wrong.

william, richmond, va (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 9:50 AM)

How awful! Miss New Jersey should not have her crown revoked because of some silly photographs. For heaven's sake, we see more provocative photos of women in beauty magazines! Miss New Jersey's been through enough! We should stop harassing her about the photos in question and should start looking for the person(s) who attempted to blackmail her.

Sarah, Salt Lake City, Utah (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 9:52 AM)

I was very shock that you used precious airtime to broadcast pictures of Amy just having good ole fun. I cannot believe someone is or was blackmailing her. I just think we spend so much time on petty news such as these pictures that we don't have time more important news.  

Crystal, Houston, Texas (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 9:58 AM)

I just watched the segment where Amy revealed her phots on Myspace with my 82 year old mother.  We found them to be as Amy said,"Silly.", but not pornographic at all!  How ironic that Amy is now the victim of something she has spoken out against!  Amy is abviously a very outgoing, vivacious, talented young woman with a super caring, warm personality.  This is the work of a jealous woman, not a guy.  He would never take the time to do all this work.  Hang in there Amy!  Something good will come out of this!  Stand up for waht you believe!

Suzy Wells, Fort Collins, Colorado (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 10:02 AM)

About you’re so called newsworthy story of Miss New Jersey releases blackmail photos.  Refer to part b: of the definition below.

News - material reported in a newspaper or news periodical or on a newscast b : matter that is newsworthy

If this happens everyday is it really newsworthy? This is just another publicity stunt that the media has fallen for.  You’ve just put someone in the spotlight and given them the publicity that they wanted, for absolutely doing nothing.  You got your story but have proven to have lost your media integrity?

Joseph Thaler, Columbus OH (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 10:04 AM)

I agree with Joseph...This is not newsworthy, and if this is all there is to talk about on the news, then I will watch something else. I believe this was a huge publicity stunt of her own making. Bored....Bored....Bored!!! Come on Matt, please find someone of "real" importance to talk to....this whole thing was beneath your talents....I love watching you but I had to turn this one off before it really got started.

Connie Kinney, Albany Ga (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 10:17 AM)

This is NOT NEWS.  Your producers are indulging the narcissistic impulses of a random attention-seeking woman who we DON'T CARE ABOUT. Stop degrading the value of news and the dignity of journalists everywhere by putting stories like this on-air -- twice in a week is nauseating. Boo.

Connie, NY NY (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 10:18 AM)

Honestly those pics aren't as bad as people are trying to say they are. She is a typical college girl. She in my mind should have nothing to wory about and if the pagent shuns her away for those pics then they have issues of there own. There is nothing wrong what those pics, I'm sure there are college girls out there with much worse. She made a comment that some of the pics were a mistake, I say no way!!! They are not nude pics, they are of her having fun, there is no reason to be sorry for that!

alicia wagner Mcpherson, kansas (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 10:19 AM)

She is just acting as any teen would the 1st time away from home. She's a good girl and I would have hated for people to see how my parents or I or the judges would have acted at that age. Give her the crown. She is very brave to show these pictures. My girls have shown me their pictures and at least they are all normal. We do not live in a convent. Judge lest you be judged yourself, there is only 1 who can do that.

Linda Fairchild, Everly, Iowa (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 10:20 AM)

This is so crazy.  Amy has done nothing wrong.  She is a human being and should not be penalized for living her life.  If Tara Conner did not lose her crown for breaking the law then Amy definitely should not have her crown revoked.  If the pageant officials do this to her, then they are all heartless and need to change their profession.  I think Amy is brave and smart for coming out with the photos.  I just hope she is treated with the same dignity she has shown.

Mary Kathryn Applewhite, Hattiesburg, MS (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 10:24 AM)

I think this entire situation has been blown out of proportion and I applaud Amy for showing the pictures and taking a stand.  She has done nothing wrong and I don't think she should even be embarassed.  She should embrace the fact that she can have a good time and has the courage to stand up to the person who is blackmailing her.  Other women who enter these pageants should learn from this that it is ok to have fun and be a normal young female as long as it isn't taken to an extreme.  They know the difference between the two and we should all forget about this situation and move on to more important things in our lives and so should Amy. I'm sorry she has been put through this and I hope she can get back to her life soon.

Darcy Warren, Richmond, VA (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 10:26 AM)

Leave the girl alone....my 13 year old son said we have more embarassing photo's of his older siblings floating around.  These pictures were silly and fun, NOT pornographic!  

Kathleen Fouse Elizabethtown, PA (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 10:28 AM)

Yes, it's college fun. I'm assuming some very jealous "friend" put these out there.  Not worth losing her crown for.  But a good reminder to all-Be VERY careful what you put on facebook!!!!  

Watertown,WI (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 10:30 AM)

I am stunned and appalled what Mss New Jersey is being put through.  BUT NOT BY THE PHOTOS, BUT BY THE MISS AMERICA AND MISS NEW JERSEY COMMITTEE. I have seen my own childrens photos (age 20 and 24), and what I see is the same as I see in Amy Polumbo's pictures. They are having fun, the same we had when we were in our 20's.  I remember similar and innocent fun with girl friends and guy friends. But only in my memory as it was't as easy then to capture on film. So Amy stay true to yourself and your beliefs. Good Luck! You will make a great Miss America!!

L. MacKinnon, North Kingstown, RI (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 10:33 AM)

isn't it bad enough the media picks on our military and its leaders they have to bother a nice young girl trying to make a difference in our society who got caught up in some harmless fun. its not like she had her ass hanging out for all to see.Good luck kiddo!!

Larry Olson Eau Claire Wi (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 10:33 AM)

What a waste of news time...some one who is jealous sends in some picts of her hanging with her friends.

I don't think there is a story here, the real story is to find who the weasel who sent in the photos is.

LarryLo, McLean, VA (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 10:34 AM)

GIVE ME A BREAK!  What decision?  If the pageant officials had any common sense at all, they would not even have bothered to meet. There's nothing to discuss. This poor girl has been put through hell for nothing.  The pictures show me that she is actually very stable and well adjusted.  I didn't see any signs of any risky behavior such as drug and alcohol use.  Please, just leave her alone!

Marj S. Niles,MI (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 10:36 AM)

I hate to suggest that Ms. NJ is orchestrating this to get the publicity in her quest for Ms America, but the possibility crossed my mind.  Obviously the pictures are meaningless, but she made it to the national networks with the story.  We, the general public, can be such suckers for stuff like this, that it is easy to imagine someone taking advantage of it.  Sorry, just my thoughts.

Ernie Hyde, Westford, MA (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 10:37 AM)

1) These photos were ridiculous.  Nothing worth losing a crown over.  Although, as a parent, I am not sure I would want to see a picture of my daughter's boyfriend biting her breast.

2) If she wanted to keep them private, why put them on the internet (even if it is under a private account)?  Anything put on the internet can be found by someone who know what they are doing.  If they are really private, DON'T POST THEM!!!

3) To whoever sent them (did anyone check the runner-up?) GET A LIFE!

Doug, Baltimore, MD (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 10:42 AM)

WOW!!!! Why are people even mad about this? Who is the holier then thou person who sent them in...Amy did nothing wrong and she seems like a great person to party with...So the person who sent these pics pull the cob out of your @!# and have. None of the pics where mistakes. Amy keep on keeping on!!!!

clint, sioux city, Iowa (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 10:48 AM)

As a college student, I use Facebook to post pictures and communicate with friends. First of all, if you don’t want anyone to see the pictures then why were they even posted. Yes, I understand that you can select preferences on who you want seeing your pictures, BUT on Facebook everyone is everyone’s friend. ANYONE can see them! Second of all, a pageant is considered professional right? When I start applying for jobs I will definitely be taking a second look at what I have posted online. These pictures are not the worst pictures on Facebook but once again if you didn't want everyone to see them, then don’t post them!

Chelsey, Stillwater OK (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 10:53 AM)

Amy took the blackmailer's power away by showing the photos on national TV. The photos are just typical college silliness. Who hasn't done something silly in their lives? There's no reason for her to lose her crown.

Kris (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 10:55 AM)

i have 2 comments this is a beauty pagent. they were not appointing the POPE. and second, if any pagent official has absolutly NO SKELETENS in their closets then take the crown. if in fact they do, go on television and expose yours like miss jersey did hers. if they take the crown they are more moronic then i tell people.

john W. ohle brooksville, florida (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 11:05 AM)

I think it is appalling that Ms. New Jersey's photos are even being discussed to this extent. She is a beautiful, smart young woman who also has a sense of humor and likes to have some fun. Is this a crime? She is human. It is ridiculous that she should be reprimanded in anyway because of these photos.

Julie, Aurelia, Ia. (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 11:10 AM)

Funny? Explain that it is ok to 12, 14, 16 year old girls......Where do we stop? We are tripping over our own shoe laces...We are fast becoming a no bounds society.....Beauty does not have to be trashy!!!

E. Casanas, Lawrenceville, Ga. (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 11:12 AM)

No harm, no foul. Let's move on.

Jerry Tabeling, Baltimore, MD (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 11:13 AM)

I think we've been manipulated by a deliberate strategy by her and her lawyer. If "THE" three pictures were the only ones shown, i.e., the one where one man is biting her breast, the one where a second man is feeling her breast and the third where she poses with her legs wide open, then many would agree, they're kinda INAPPROPRIATE for a pageant contestant. But because these three pics are tossed in with many benign pics, the "sting" is watered down in the public eye. Although I personally think there is nothing really wrong with the pics, if the judges think they're being manipulated, it might backfire on her. I think she has something to worry about, unfortunately.

Mike (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 11:14 AM)

Oh my God, let it go America!

Alex D. (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 11:14 AM)

America America, what is happening to you and your people. Who is running the game?! Who comes up with these things?! Leave this girl alone, those photos are actually proof that she is a normal person. The ones who think the photos are wrong, they are the ones with the problem. We need to wake up and change some ridiculous things about our society. There are so many.

Marko, New York, NY (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 11:15 AM)

I would agree with most others- those are pictures from typical college life!  We've all been there!! Look on any other facebook or myspace accounts from college students and you would see the same things as what she is  being 'blackmailed' with.  It is good to see that she is a normal, college girl and others can relate to that.  

Theresa, Lake Jackson, Texas (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 11:17 AM)

have you ever considered that there never was a strange person sending in these pictures for some sort of ransom, and what excactly was the person blackmialing her for.

posh spice (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 11:19 AM)

Stop apologizing to this girl, attacking her "blackmailer", and generally fawning over her.  She goes on national TV in designer clothes and gets paid to look pretty.  Life isn't so bad, is it?  Being embarassed by photographs happens to all of us.  Do I get a candelight vigil because I'm nerdy and overweight in my passport photo?  There are a lot of people more deserving of your sympathy than Miss New Jersey.  Sickening.

Ted (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 11:20 AM)

Isn't it against the law to blackmail someone?  Police should track and arrest the person behind this.

jodi Adams (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 11:20 AM)

I, along, with my mother, watched this morning for the big reveal of the "illicit" photos. After viewing the photos we both looked at each other and said "so what". She seems to be your average American girl hamming it up with her friends.  There was no underage drinking, nude photos or drug use. You can still be a role model as Miss NJ and a hometown girl everyone knows as down to earth and fun-loving. She made the right decision to just lay everything out on the table. If the pagent thinks that she is not worthy of keeping the crown I would ask them to take a look at thier own lives.

Alisa, Jacksonville Beach, FL (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 11:20 AM)

Louise, you and people like you are why the rest of the world feels that the United States is packed to the brim with idiots.  Don't try to equate this (which really, is absolutely nothing) with terrorism.

Bob (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 11:21 AM)

This is commerce. I clicked. Visa paid NBC to show me their little ad. Miss whoever added to her fifteen minutes of fame. And America is still in the dark about the issues that really matter in the world "Today" because the media is continually manipulated by pure nonsense.

Doug, Long Island NY (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 11:21 AM)

Those are pictures of a college student having the best time of her life. Her smiles are wonderful and it looks like she has alot of great friends and ONE really rotten one. Those pictures are no different then my daughters college pictures. I'd rather see those photos then one of her in the military fighting a worthless war. Keep strong girl, you are already a winner!

Joanne Deutch,Lenox,MA (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 11:24 AM)



SEND A COMMENT

PLEASE READ: All comments must be approved before appearing in the thread; time and space constraints prevent all comments from appearing. We will only approve comments that are directly related to the blog, use appropriate language and are not attacking the comments of others.

Message (please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):

Your name, city and state (John Doe, Seattle, Wash.): 

 Your e-mail address (jdoe@msnbc.com):

Your website (it's okay if you don't have one):

Remember me? (We'll keep it private)

More allDAY

Recent Posts:

Archives:

Categories

Syndicate This Site

Add allDAY to your news reader:
live.com xml
myyahoo msn
bloglines newsgator
google

MSNBC Weblogs

More Links