Quite possibly the biggest TV fail in history took place last night at the Miss Universe 2015 pageant. Presenter Steve Harvey announced the wrong winner, and before they realised their mistake, gave the crown to her — on live television.
Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez and Miss Philippines Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach stood together as they waited to hear who would be crowned Miss Universe.
A tearful Miss Colombia was crowned and, as the audience screamed and applauded, she waved and blew kisses holding her enormous bouquet of flowers.
…until host Steve Harvey returned to the stage looking a bit sheepish. “Okay folks, um, I have to apologize,” he said. “The first runner up… is Colombia.”
As it dawned on the contestants what was happening, Steve added, “The winner of Miss Universe 2015 is… Phillipines!”
“What?!”
After two short minutes as Miss Universe, Miss Colombia’s crown and flowers were taken from her live on TV and handed to Miss Philippines.
They both smiled as some crowd members booed and the awkwardness intensified.
Steve held up the card, saying: “Let me just take control of this. This is exactly what’s on the card. It was my mistake — a horrible mistake.”
He added, “Don’t hold it against the ladies.” Don’t worry Steve, we won’t.
A still-shocked Miss Phillipines was given her $30,000 blue diamond and topaz crown.
While Miss Colombia lost it altogether.
Speaking to press after the show, Miss Phillipines described her crowning as “non-traditional” and “very 2015”.
While Steve Harvey apologised repeatedly on Twitter for the gaffe, he added insult to injury by spelling both contestants’ countries wrong.
Before hastily correcting his mistake. Although he couldn’t escape a Twitter-roasting…
WE ASKED ONE HUNDRED AMERICANS WHAT'S THE WORST THING YOU COULD POSSIBLY DO AT A BEAUTY PAGEANT
— Langston Taylor (@langstonitaylor) December 21, 2015
https://twitter.com/rhishmannon/status/678775731015565312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
If you want to cringe down to your bones, you can watch the full video below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmqAjr0xs04