Mothers Against Drunk Driving cuts ties with Miss Teen USA, citing underage drinking reports

LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Mothers Against Drunk Driving said Wednesday it was severing ties with Miss Teen USA Katie Blair because it was ``disappointed'' by news reports that she had partied with Miss

Wednesday, December 20th 2006, 9:55 pm

By: News On 6

LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Mothers Against Drunk Driving said Wednesday it was severing ties with Miss Teen USA Katie Blair because it was ``disappointed'' by news reports that she had partied with Miss USA Tara Conner.

The day before, Conner had tearfully admitted drinking as a minor at New York nightclubs. She turned 21 on Monday.

``In the past, MADD has teamed with Miss Teen USA to raise awareness about the serious and often deadly consequences of underage drinking,'' said Heidi Castle, a spokeswoman for MADD, in a statement. ``However, we do not feel, at this time, that Ms. Blair can be an effective spokesperson on underage drinking and will not ask her to represent MADD in future initiatives.''

A message left for a representative of Blair, an 18-year-old from Billings, Mont., wasn't returned Wednesday.

Donald Trump _ owner of the Miss Universe Organization, which includes Miss Teen USA and Miss USA _ said Tuesday at a news conference in New York that he would allow Conner to keep her crown if she settled down and entered alcohol rehab.

Miss Universe Organization spokeswoman Lark-Marie Anton said Blair's crown also was safe.

Anton said the company respected ``MADD's decision as much as we respect their work. We look forward to working with them in the future.''

In a story Wednesday in The Billings (Mont.) Gazette, Paula Shugart, president of the Miss Universe Organization, said ``a lot of the stories'' of Blair's activities were unfounded.

``I'm sorry that Katie got dragged into this,'' Shugart said. ``People just wanted to tell a story, and a lot of it is just to see the name of a particular club in the New York papers, whether it's true or not.''

Rosie O'Donnell, co-host of ABC's ``The View,'' said on Wednesday's show that Trump's news conference with Conner had annoyed her ``on a multitude of levels.''

``Left the first wife, had an affair, left the second wife, had an affair. Had kids both times, but he's the moral compass for 20-year-olds in America,'' the comedian and actress said to roars of audience laughter. ``Donald, sit and spin, my friend.''

Trump didn't respond Wednesday to a phone call from The Associated Press seeking comment about O'Donnell's remarks.