Miss Universe show flub draws world attention
NEW YORK — The Miss Universe pageant and host Steve Harvey doubled down on the apologies Monday after an excruciating live television moment — announcing incorrectly that Miss Colombia had won and then taking the crown from her head to give to a rival from the Philippines.
The fallout from Sunday’s show made Harvey an online symbol of “oops” moments, drew a reaction from Colombia’s president and even a gloating tweet from Donald Trump, the pageant’s former owner.
As televised on Fox, Harvey first proclaimed Ariadna Gutierrez Arevalo the winner. Minutes later, he said Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach was the winner.
Harvey said he misread the card he was given with the names of the winners.
Celebrations quickly turned to anger in Colombia.
“They put the crown on her head,” President Juan Manuel Santos said Monday. “The photos are there to prove it. To me, as a Colombian, she is still Miss Universe.”
Trump said if he were still in charge of the show, he would make the women share the title.
