Pageant peeves: Colombians irked by Miss Universe gaffe

Adding insult to injury, host Steve Harvey misspells ‘Colombia’ in an online apology

Colombian media and social networks lit up with reactions to the botched Miss Universe finale that took place Sunday night, which saw Miss Colombia Adriana Gutierrez crowned and dethroned in a matter of minutes, reported IANS.

Colombians went from feeling ecstatic to disappointed in a jiffy as the pageant host, US comedian Steve Harvey, announced he made a mistake moments later, giving the title to Miss Philippines Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach. “Adriana Gutierrez was Miss Universe for four and a half minutes,” Colombia’s Caracol news network headlined a story about the mix-up on the front page of its website.

Adding insult to injury, Harvey misspelled the name of the country in one of his many online apologies. “Steve Harvey, the one who made the Miss Universe mistake, called the country ‘Columbia’,” another article pointed out.



Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos had immediately celebrated the win via Twitter, posting “Colombian women are the most beautiful in the world! Congratulations, Miss Universe 2015 Adriana Gutierrez! Our pride!” After the gaffe was rectified, he posted, “Adriana Gutierrez, you are still our Miss Universe! We feel very proud!”

In other news about pageant peeves, Destiny Velez, who was crowned Miss Puerto Rico 2015, was indefinitely suspended over posting a string of anti-Muslim comments on Twitter. She was stripped off her title by the official Miss America Organisation after she slammed Islam and filmmaker Michael Moore for his #WeAreAllMuslim social media campaign, reported the Huffington Post.

Velez, 20, alleged that Muslims “have terrorising agendas in their sacred books.” In a tweet to Moore, she said, “All what Muslims have done is provided oil and terrorise this country and many others.” Her Twitter account has since been deleted.



The organisation disassociated itself from Velez’s transgression. “In regards to Miss Puerto Rico Destiny Velez’s recent actions and conduct, the Miss Puerto Rico Organisation feels her words do not represent the integrity and esteem of our programme …,” the island’s official Miss American organisation said in a statement.

They also posted an apologetic statement from Velez. “I apologise to the people I have offended with my words. I am first and foremost an #UpStander and as such, I stand up against bullying,” she said.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 23^rd, 2015.

Like Life & Style on Facebook, follow @ETLifeandStyle on Twitter for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment.