Kristen Dalton : Miss USA keeps away from Prejean’s ongoing gay marriage debate

The newly crowned Miss USA is not taking anybody’s sides in the controversy surrounding runner-up Carrie Prejean’s anti-gay marriage comments.

Prejean’s response to the question by judge Perez Hilton, an openly gay gossip blogger, led to a huge furore, with many arguing that the answer cost Prejean the crown.

But, the crown-wining beauty Dalton is in no mood to adding more fuel to the fire and is thus being diplomatic.

“Carrie is obviously very passionate about her beliefs,” The New York Daily News quoted Dalton as saying at City Harvest’s ‘Practical Magic’ event.

She added: “I respect her as an American, a fellow competitor and her friend.

“Although I’m her friend, [I don't want to defend her to her detractors] because that’s their right as well. They feel really strongly about their opinion for pro-gay rights, and that’s great.”

Meanwwhile Donald Trump, owner of the Miss Universe franchise, has finally broken his silence over the controversy surrounding Miss USA runner-up Carrie Prejean’s gay marriage comments.

He even defended Prejean by disagreeing with Hilton’s assertion that it was the worst answer in the history of the Miss USA pageant.

“Miss California has done a wonderful job, that was her belief … It wasn’t a bad answer, that was simply her belief,’ he said.

Trump added that Prejean’s question was “a bit unlucky,” arguing that no matter how she answered the question “she was going to get killed.”