Only a few days after filing a lawsuit accusing Miss USA pageant co-director Keith Lewis - along with her old boss, Shanna Moakler - of religious discrimination, it's not surprising that an e-mail featuring angry words from Carrie Prejean directed toward Lewis would surface. What is a little surprising, however, is that the e-mail was sent to Lewis over one month before the April 19th pageant in which the 22 year-old model made her controversial "gay marriage" comments.

"Our differences began in January," Lewis told FoxNews.com yesterday, rebutting Prejean's claims that tensions arose after she voiced her opinions on Proposition 8. "Carrie became a challenge. She wanted everyone to jump through hoops for her, but she wasn’t willing to cooperate. She is very good at receiving, but not at giving. We were very patient with Carrie, but she wasn't following - her contract."

For proof of this, Lewis offered Fox an all-caps e-mail dated March 9th which reads, "I WILL NOT BE VERBALLY AND EMOTIONALLY ABUSED ANYMORE BY ANY OF YOU. I HAVE A COMPETITION TO PREPARE FOR. I WILL NO LONGER BE DEALING WITH ANYONE WHO IS GOING TO BRING ME DOWN AT THIS POINT. I WILL ONLY SURROUND MYSELF WITH PEOPLE WHO MAKE ME HAPPY. AND RIGHT NOW, THAT IS NONE OF YOU. I WILL SEE YOU ALL IN APRIL. PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT ME AT ALL FROM THIS POINT FORWARD.

Reacting to the e-mail's release, Prejean's attorney, Charles Limandri, told Fox, "The only public appearances that Keith Lewis seemed to be interested in for her were Hollywood appearances, because he was a Hollywood agent and producer, and this furthered those other business interests. Also, he would take a commission from her paid appearances even though their contract said that he was not entitled to one."

Kimandri added, "Before the pageant [Carrie] was also told not to talk about God and that made her uncomfortable since she is quite religious. Carrie was also uncomfortable with Shanna Moakler's foul mouth, using the 'f-word' and the 'c-word' around her all the time. However, these were not major problems, and they were all getting along quite well going into the Miss USA Pageant."