LAS VEGAS, Dec. 21 (UPI) — Steve Harvey made things awkward during the 2015 Miss Universe pageant when he wrongfully declared Miss Colombia, Ariadna Gutierrez, as the winner.
Gutierrez was actually the first runner-up; Miss Philippines, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, had won. Miss Colombia was already standing center stage, wearing the coveted crown, waving to the audience and holding a bouquet of flowers before Harvey returned to the stage to apologize and fix his mistake.
“Ok., folks, uh, there’s. … I have to apologize,” he told the confused crowd Sunday before announcing Wurtzbach as the rightful winner. “Let me just take control of this. This is exactly what’s on the card. I will take responsibility for this. It was my mistake. It was on the card.”
Shocked, Miss Philippines returned front and center as the crown was taken off the head of Miss Colombia and put onto hers.
In a now deleted tweet, Harvey messed up again when he attempted to apologize on Twitter and misspelled both countries names. “I want to apologize emphatically to Miss Philippians and Miss Columbia,” he wrote. “This was a terribly honest human mistake and I am so regretful.”
Later, Harvey apologized again on Facebook.
“I made a terrible mistake tonight in announcing the wrong winner and runner-up for the Miss Universe pageant. I know how much pride many countries, fans and most importantly, the contestants take in preparing for this night. I hope that you can forgive me,” the comedian wrote.
“All contestants were amazing but I want to specifically apologize to Miss Colombia and Miss Philippines again and wholeheartedly. You both represented well for your countries, families and yourselves.”
