The Tribune

By JEFFARAH GIBSON

Tribune Features Writer

jgibson@tribunemedia.net

THERE was chaos both on and off the television screen during Sunday’s night 64th Miss Universe 2015 pageant in Las Vegas, which saw one contest crowned and another left in shock and tears.

Posting on Facebook live from the event, Jerome Sawyer, public relations representative of the Miss Bahamas Organisation, said pageant fans were about “to tear (the venue) apart”.

The drama stemmed from American comedian and host Steve Harvey’s announcement of Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez as the evening’s top winner. Moments after being crowned and presented with the sash and crown, Harvey came back on stage and the unthinkable happened.

“I have to apologise,” Steve said while walking back on to the stage.

“The first runner-up is Colombia. Miss Universe 2015 is Miss Philippines.”

At that moment, Miss Philippines Pia Wurtzbach, who had been standing in the dark on the side of the stage with the other runner-ups, emerged to the front in a state of shock.

There was a mix of emotions from audiences who were excited about Miss Philippines’ win and outraged by the blunder Harvey made.

“I will take responsibility for this,” Harvey told the screaming crowd as he held up the card from which he read. “It was my mistake… I can show it to you right here.”

He added: “Still a great night. Please don’t hold it against the ladies.”

Then Gutierrez bent down so Miss Universe 2014 Paulina Vega could remove the crown which Miss Colombia had been mistakenly bestowed and place it on Wurtzbach’s head instead.

Mr Sawyer attended the pageant in Las Vegas for the Miss Bahamas Organisation in support of their contestant, Toria Nichole, who failed to make the semi-finals. He told of chaos that erupted after the announcement on his personal Facebook page.

He posted: “I can’t even begin to describe what is going on in this Vegas theatre tonight. ... I need a cameraman.”

“So... there is now absolute chaos outside of Miss Universe in Vegas. Police everywhere.

“Crowds have the foyer of the Axis Theatre at Planet Hollywood under siege... moments after the Miss Universe debacle. Phillipino (sic) and Colombian supporters were about to tear the place a part. I tried to capture some of if... #pageantdrama”.

Sunday’s night beauty pageant had numerous high and low moments, all of which Bahamian audiences got see unfold live on TV. Some said that this year’s event was more entertaining than previous ones, even though they felt extremely embarrassed and sad for Miss Colombia.

National director of Miss Teen Bahamas International Anthony Smith said he along with a few friends watched from their hotel room.

“Without sounding arrogant, I knew that there was something wrong when Miss Colombia was announced as the winner. Having been a pageant-goer for about 20 plus years and following since I was 15-years-old, I could tell that there was some disconnect with the host,” Mr Smith said.

“The win even seemed like a mystery to her as well when she heard her name called. I did think she was supposed to be in the semi-finals, but I think the only contestants that gave Miss Philippines a run for her money was France and Japan,” he said.

Despite apologising publicly and taking full responsibility for what could be one of the biggest blunders on live television, Harvey has been bashed heavily on social media since Sunday night.

“They cannot bash him,” Mr Smith said. “He was following a script. It is an honest mistake and a mistake that anyone can make. All of this simply goes to show that mistakes happen and there is no perfect system. I think he was doing a wonderful job and I hope he gets to host it again. He is a man of great integrity, and it was simply human error.”