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Sunday’s Miss Universe 2015 ended with host Steve Harvey naming Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez as the evening’s top winner… only she was really the first runner-up.
That means that Miss Philippines Pia Wurtzbach, who’d previously been named first runner-up, was actually the new beauty queen.
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“I have to apologize,” Harvey said after walking back onstage at Las Vegas’ Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino while Gutierrez — who’d already donned the Miss Universe crown and sash — took her first walk as the winner. “The first runner-up is Colombia.”
Cut to Wurtzbach, who’d been standing in the dark on stage with the other runners-up (including Miss USA Olivia Jordan), looking shellshocked as she realized she’d won.
“I will take responsibility for this,” a chagrined Harvey told the screaming crowd as he held up the card from which he’d been reading. “It was my mistake… I can show it to you right here.”
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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 Miss Colombia been awarded and place it on Wurtzbach’s head.
TVLine has reached out to Fox for comment.
We don’t want to kick a Family Feud host when he’s down, but is anyone else wondering whether someone involved with the pageant might’ve planned the gaffe as a way to nab a little extra publicity for the event? Or are we just cynical jerks?
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