Dear
Leon, I have now fully read your letter as I have been it work very
hard for the last 15 hours. It seems you have a lot of free time to
write me long itemized descriptions of my transgressions.
In
my interaction with Shauna, I merely screenshot it your comment that
your pageant is not promoting prostitution. There is no way to alter
what you wrote to me in a screenshot. Therefore the information was
accurate as you wrote it to me. I felt that you do you throning anyone
was out of line and overdramatic. It started creating questions in my
mind about you as a director.
At
the Pageant itself your behavior was erratic and Moody. I was afraid to
have my daughter see you're mean behavior and I hoped you would not
have a Little Miss division in the future because your personality is
not conducive to having small children around you. The lack of food at
your pageant was frightening. Thank goodness I brought protein bars with
me and was able to purchase my own meals after our midnight practices.
Instead
of making the pageant fun and positive, there was always a concern and
looming that you were judging everybody there and going to influence the
judges based on your own personal thoughts of each one of us. Very
unprofessional.
Putting three contestants in a room was
already too much but not providing meals throughout the day such as
three meals a day was challenging.
I
had hoped to see the Leon that I thought you were before the pageant.
Warm, kind, generous, thinking of others, charitable, supportive, proud
of his company and organization. But instead I saw a different side of
you that scared me.
Throughout this year your
interactions and postings on Facebook have not been uplifting and
positive, but rather disparaging of people and their behavior and
listing all of your previous dethroning's with the years for each one.
It seems like bullying to me or threats to all of us to follow your
rules.
I did not approve of you dethroning anybody from
the beginning but is your pageant. It did scare away all of the other
contestants that I had wanted to bring to your system.
I
never posted the name of the company CIA on my Facebook page, therefore
it is not slander. You should consult an attorney before you start
saying people are slandering you. For you to prove slander in a court of
law means you would have to prove that my comment on Facebook caused
you loss of income. I did not mention you, your pageant, or CIA
industries. Therefore slander was not committed. If you were educated
you might know this.
I had asked you previously if you
needed this contract, You told me at our very first meeting after me
being crowned that whether we signed it or not we were bound by the
contract and that we didn't need to handed in because it still was
binding by accepting the crown and the position.
I
have followed through on my commitments to make appearances, I have
never posted our personal interactions on Facebook. I did forward the
contract that you sent to the delegates two other title holders, asking
them if they received it. Not everyone had received it apparently.
You
say you were offering me the services for free, but according to all of
the contract you sent to me it said all United Nations delegates will
pay $1500 for the service. In the email it's stated that the photos
would be free. Not that management would be free. Not only that but I am
concerned about putting my name or image on a website that is clearly
not a legitimate company.
My friend is a reporter and an
investigative reporter and has already did the research to find out
that that location and address is not a talent agent and that this is
not a valid talent agency or management firm. I do not want to have my
image used to attract business from other delegates in the US or around
the world for this talent agency.
I did this pageant to
make a difference Leon, to have fun, to create an international family,
and to have a positive legacy to leave for the next title holder.
I
am willing to continue forward with you and continue promoting your
system as well as the positive good that I believe pageantry can truly
be about. I hope you can put the drama and insecurities and power play
behind you, because I can.
This pageant should be about
service Leon and you should be promoting that – the rest is unnecessary.
If you keep your post positive and you keep inspiring others and
supporting your title holders, good things will come to you. I came to
the system because I loved what Sherrie was doing and I love how you
treated her.
It isn't
good for your system to continue having strife with your title holders.
Best to keep everything positive and lift them up- more delegates will
follow and you will get referrals in the future.
March 15, 2017
Subject: Wendi Russo, Mrs. United Nations 2016
Dear Leon Williams and JM Forzan,
This
communication regarding the Mrs. United Nations title is being sent to
L.N. Williams President/ Founder W.G.I Jamaica Limited and JM Forzan
Chairman of the board CIA Multinational Corporation from Mrs. Wendi
Russo, Mrs. United Nations 2017 regarding communications received by the
undersigned regarding the status of the Mrs. United Nations 2016/2017
title. The format of this communication will cover Mr. Williams three
strikes from a previous communication. I
the undersigned will be carrying out the International duties of Mrs.
United Nations 2017 until a new pageant is held and Mrs. United Nations
2017/2018 is selected at that pageant by a panel of qualified judges.
The
First Breach, Drama (1st strike): Started back from Jamaica Christian
Boy's Home over simple issue of paint brushes. In your statement “you
make donation of $100 USD you claiming how much money your paid no brush
or paint supplies was purchased based on Ms Gearheart report to me. I
personally spoke about this issue and I never mention it to the judges
about your outburst which put the whole pageants group in division.”
1st
Strike Many delegates contributed money for the painting supplies for
the Jamaica Christian Boy's Home - the paint was donated separately but
the delegates donated over $650 dollars, yet when we got there we found a
total of 9 paint brushes, 3 rollers, and 3 mixing pans. I did ask Ms
Gearheart about the status of the total amount of funds we contributed
and if that was all of the supplies that were purchased. Ms Gearheart
didn't know how much had been donated. I wanted to make sure that the
money went to the cause it was solicited for and not diverted to the
pockets of people trying to keep the money. You solicited the
contributions and then became upset with accounting for where the funds
went. As you stated (1st strike) was when I asked and later during a
private conversation when you still couldn't/wouldn't account for the
contributions. Later on I was able to do some fundraising for the
Jamaica Christian Boy's Home, which resulted in brand-new church clothes
for each boy, new basketballs and soccer balls, and lots of candy and
cookies for treats! I even set them repair kits for their bicycles. I wanted to send it directly to them so I knew the boys would receive the items.
Second
Breach Drama (2nd strikes): “Started regarding removal of Mr Teen
United Nations in which Miss Teen United Nations chose to step down. We had
a conversation regarding both persons and you personally went on to
create public mischief by stating that I called the young lady a
prostitute which was very unfortunate. I was informed by several people
about your shared and spreading such slanderous and malicious lies,
conversation which you screen shot/ edited to make me look bad, Ms
Ballog has since apologized after discovering that you all played her.”
2nd
Strike. The screenshot was not edited. It was unfortunate that you
classified your Teen UN titleholder (a teenage girl ) as a prostitute
which you would not provide dating services for. This was prior to her
removal. As a woman, as a mother, as a sister titleholder this was
something so egregious, I did provide a raw and unedited image (also
attached to this communication) . As for making you look bad, you have
been doing an excellent job of it all by yourself. Any attempts to make
you look bad by others would seem redundant and fall short of the hi bar
you have set for your personal and professional self destruction. It is
sad that your business and the innocents connected to it should suffer
for your words and deeds.
Third Breach Drama (3rd Strikes): You said: “We
negotiated a management contract for you with CIA free of cost, we sent
your draft in a CC email with CEO Forzan, who also replied to you that
all fees has been waved for you before you post the slanderous statement
in which CIA agency will be pursuing legal actions against. Instead of
contacting me or Mr Forzan for full details, you went on Facebook
discussing the content of contract without seeking clarification and
also contacting other contestants about it. I really thinking about your
reputation and professionalism. I received several email from Voy Forum
about your behavior and professional conduct as titleholder.”
3rd
Strike The generic statement on FB that you referred to where I do not
name any company at all, is a warning to any young person wanting to get
into the entertainment business. I have been a staple in the
entertainment industry for over 25 years and every year because of my
position and notoriety in the entertainment industry I am deluged with
requests for advice from woman of
all ages about offers from agents, photographers, modeling and talent
agencies etc. The generic statement that you referred to is to educate
others that no fees should ever be paid for representation of any kind
according to US Law. My training and experience in the entertainment industry is as follows:
“While
in New York, Wendi still had the acting bug and applied for enrollment
at Lee Strasberg Theater in New York City.Wendi honed her craft with
Meisner training from the William Esper Studios in NYC, Actors Movement
and voice & speech with Shane Ann Younts. After 5 years of training,
including Soap Opera & Commercial Acting classes, Wendi booked
commercials, independent film work, Industrials and Infomercials as well
as many print modeling jobs for Delta Dental, Power Ball-
Millionairess, Radisson Hotels, IBM, Mercedes, Shape Magazine &
Burlington Coat Factory.
Following Casting Director recommendations, Wendi moved to LA where she
booked co-star, guest star & leading role work on TV, including
"Pacific Blue", "America's Most Wanted" "Malibu, CA", "Working", and a
Leading role in the experimental film "Decay of Fiction" which received
excellent reviews by the NY Times & the Berlin Film Festival, MTV's
"Spring Break Lawyer", "Smoke and Mirrors" and "Cloud 2000." With an
interest in hosting, Wendi received her certification at UCLA's
prestigious Broadcast Journalism program and shortly thereafter began
hosting, and created a pilot presentation of "Inside LA", where she
reported on the hottest fashion stores, restaurants and clubs giving the
"Inside Scoop" on where to shop in LA. She also began writing "A
Shopaholics Guide to LA", giving tips for specialty items and where to
find hidden out-of-the-way boutiques that usually only a select few
would know about. It was at that time that she received a call from her
agent that Shop NBC was interested in having her audition to be a host
on their Home Shopping channel . Wendi was flown to Minnesota for her audition and began her career June of 2004.
Since
then Wendi Russo has been an engaging hostess on Shop NBC Home Shopping
Channel for 13 years and specializes in presenting fashion, beauty
products, jewelry and gemstones and can be seen in 70 million homes
nationwide via Comcast, Dish Network, Direct TV and www.shopnbc.com as
live streaming video. Her twitter account alone has over 25,000
subscribers.”
You
never had a right to negotiate an entertainment management contract for
me whatsoever. I have an agent and I also have a recent contract
negotiated with my current company EVINE (formerly Shop NBC). Signing a
10 year agreement with an agency would grant them a percentage of my
annual income to which they had no part in negotiating and further
should their contract violate my current contract, I would lose all I
have worked for over the years. I have also been instrumental in
starting the careers of new hosts and models by training and mentoring
them at no charge and then helped them get agents and employment in the
industry through my contacts. As you can see legally there is no way I
could have signed the contract in question with or without fees.
Addressing other points in the LN Williams communication.
1)
“Further follow up to our conversation on Facebook on dated February
15,2017, we discussed that CIA Management will be offering you a
contract, in order for us to take the next step of managing your
affairs. Base on your slanderous and defaming post on Facebook regarding
signing of this contract. We Board of United Nations Pageants
regretfully relinquish your title in the form of dethronement and
appoint the 1st runner up carry on your duties and your termination will
effect from February 24, 2017 with immediate effect.”
This
was covered in strike 3, however in this paragraph Mr. LN Williams
relinquishes the rights to the title Mrs. United Nations 2017 and then
mentions a dethronement and appointment of someone else to carry my
duties to a title that he has relinquished on behalf of his
organization. The next item in the sentence states that the addressee is
terminated with effect from something which
is not stated and then adds ‘with immediate effect’. This is not only
confusing but quite frankly flies in the face of juris prudence with
regard to due process.
2)
As stated at our meeting the reason(s) for terminating your employment
with us are as follows: Mrs United Nations 2016 and United Nations
Pageants and it affiliated brand company has no legal obligation with
you. We have no contract signed base on this action you have no right to
hold this title.
The
day after the crowning I had asked about the contract while at
breakfast with all of the newly crowned title holders and Mr. LN
Williams stated that since we had accepted the crowns and titles,
signing the written contract was not necessary as accepting the crowns,
sashes, and titles in itself was also accepting the terms on the W.G.I
Jamaica Limited contract for the pageant winners. He
did not have contracts with him and emailed them out much later. If Mr.
LN Williams is referring to JM Forzan's CIA Multinational Corporation
Contract which did not exist at the time of my winning the pageant -
then may I add that refusing to sign that talent management contract is
my prerogative. I interpret this as Mr LN Williams not wanting to pay
transportation expenses for me to travel to the pageant to give up my
title and crown my successor. I am sure the other title holders will be
bullied in the same manner so that WGI Limited will not have to pay out
any money as they have not paid out previous title holders airline fees
to return to the pageant.
3) Regarding: Unprofessional conducts and other communication break down between Mrs United Nations 2017: and management.
No
unprofessional conduct on my part has specifically been referenced by
Mr. LN Williams however the unprofessional conduct of Mr. LN Williams as
an agent of W.G.I Jamaica Limited is only partially listed here. As for
communication breakdowns between myself and Mr. LN Williams , I would
not condone capricious, arbitrary, and illegitimate/illegal actions by
anyone. As for communication breakdowns by Mr. LN Williams, his whole
missive was a communication breakdown with himself. Just look at the
next 2 points:
4)
Then you say “From October 15, 2016, I wanted to serve you a verbal
warning, given your conduct which has affected your ability to move the
pageant forward. I believing in second chances, but yet again you
strike.”
Does
this make sense? Somebody wanted to serve a verbal warning for
something or somethings not mentioned (wanting to do something and doing
something are two different things). Again this flies in the face of
juris prudence with regard to due process.
5)
You say: “We are warning you to desist from this type of behavior for
your self destruct reason, you refuse to follow and obey instructions
base on this action. We will be forced to terminate your service from
W.G.I Jamaica Limited or any other affiliated companies with immediate
effect.”
Again
the behavior to desist is not listed. There is no cease portion of any
type. The self destruct person was the instigator of the communication.
What instructions are to be followed and obeyed? Where
does any contract state that Mr. LN Williams has the legal right or
authorization to order anyone to do something illegal? To become a part
of a conspiracy to harm someone's good name and reputation, or commit an
act of self destruction.? Mr.
LN Williams himself admits there is no contract with either W.G.I
Jamaica Limited or CIA Multinational corporation with my signature on
it. The former his choice the latter by my choice. Now it gets confusing
again since Mr. LN Williams states that “W.G.I Jamaica Limited will be
forced to terminate your service from W.G.I Jamaica Limited or any other
affiliated companies with immediate effect.” This means that the
previous part about dethronement is null and void but they will be
forced to terminate your service from W.G.I Jamaica Limited or any other
affiliated companies with immediate effect. You probably should have hired a lawyer to actually submit a legal document that actually makes sense in proper English.
6)
You say :”We will no longer required your service to our organization.
Base on your behavior we are also looking into the matter of removing
all branding from website and social media as Mrs United Nations 2016
because you fail to carry out simple instructions. I, Mr Williams has
lost all confident and credibility in your reign and find it untenable
for you to continued.”
It
may be the best idea to remove all of my branding at this point and of
my daughters from your fb pages since all branding and photos gives
assumption that I am your current queen and that we are in good standing
with you. It also leads people to contact me about your pageant.
7)
You say:” We also have pending breach for the past month where you
should sign and submit your winner contract which you refuse to sign and
returned. “
The
day after the crowning I asked about a contract to sign and as stated
before you said it was not necessary, since accepting the crown meant
accepting the terms of the contract (which I did not have an opportunity
to read). The only other contract is the CIA Multinational Corporation
Contract which was not a part of the pageant process.
8)
You say “I am sure you are upset with someone but it should not be us,
we did all in our powers to communicate with you, please give us chance
to help you, it is my last resort to dethrone you but we must take
business serious. Please let us work it out no need for us to fight. Let
us work together to achieve your dreams and vision. This
private letter of dethronement, if your wish for the world to know you
know what to do. I am taking this opportunity to thank you past year
working with us. it was indeed truly great experiences. I have such high
regards for your coaching program.”
When you stated "This private letter of dethronement, if your wish for the world to know you know what to do.". I
take it this is a threat of libel or slander. If so, it would become a
long, prorated, and all encompassing legal and very public war. Secondly
this was a closing paragraph but you addressed it to "Dear Mrs Wendi
Russo Mrs United Nations 2017," therefore you admit that I am the
currrent and reigning Mrs. United Nations 2017.
The following are some observations and comments based on my dealings with Mr. LN Williams and W.G.I Jamaica Limited.
During the pageant your emcee Sherrie Gearhart at your bid, announced
the following as prizes won (by me). $5000 in cash, travel allowance
along with airline mileage to be an Ambassador to Ecuador, 3
International trips including Liberia, Nigeria, and all expenses paid
trip to the Singapore United Nations Pageants in June. None of those
prize were forthcoming. I spoke to the Singapore director and she
reported that you lied to her when you said I could not attend her
pageant and offered to send another in my place from Asia (TANVI)_which
would cost less for transportation because you told Tanvi transportation
was not included.
To
terminate a titleholder, the person would have to violate a written
contract which specifies their duties, obligations, expectations, of
course your duties, obligations, and expectations. No Contract, equals
no grounds for termination.
I
will remain Mrs. United Nations 2016/2017 until the delegates and
judges award the 2017/2018 title in July. I am willing to put all of
this behind us.
Sincerely,
Wendi Russo
Mrs United Nations 2016/2017
