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Video: Chaos Reigns As Steve Harvey Crowns The Wrong Miss Universe
Miss Universe 2014 Paulina Vega removes the crown from Miss Colombia 2015, Ariadna Gutierrez, in order to give it to Miss Philippines 2015, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, after Steve Harvey mistakenly named Gutierrez the winner instead of Wurtzbach. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
The Miss Universe pageant has had quite a notable 2015. First it was dumped by NBC because Donald Trump is racist, now it has gotten its most replayed moment since... wait, when was the last time people actually cared about the Miss Universe pageant?
On Sunday night at the Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, the Miss Universe crown came down to Miss Philippines Pia Wurtzbach and Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutiérrez (Miss USA Olivia Jordan was the 2nd runner-up). When it was time to announce this year's tiara-holder, host Steve Harvey emphatically announced "Miss Universe 2015 is... Colombia!"
Hugs were exchanged, Guitérrez wiped tears from her eyes, and bad EDM blasted from the soundsystem. Miss Colombia's moment in the sun was short-lived, though. Harvey awkwardly walked back to the stage and had an announcement to make: "OK folks, uh... I have to apologize."
"The first runner-up is Colombia," he continued. The camera cuts to a shocked Wurtzbach on the side of the stage. "Miss Philippines, take your first walk as Miss Universe," says Harvey. Miss Colombia doesn't even know what to do with herself, guys!
"I take responsibility for this. It was my mistake—it was on the card," says Harvey, who shows the card to the camera
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Steve Harvey shows the card that had the correct winner of the Miss Universe 2015 title (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Steve Harvey felt really bad about it!
I'd like to apologize wholeheartedly to Miss Colombia & Miss Philippines for my huge mistake. I feel terrible.
— Steve Harvey (@IAmSteveHarvey) December 21, 2015
Secondly, I'd like to apologize to the viewers at that I disappointed as well. Again it was an honest mistake.
— Steve Harvey (@IAmSteveHarvey) December 21, 2015
I don't want to take away from this amazing night and pageant. As well as the wonderful contestants. They were all amazing.
— Steve Harvey (@IAmSteveHarvey) December 21, 2015
And while he sold the entire Miss Universe organization off in in September, youknowwho just had to chime in:
Very sad what happened last night at the Miss Universe Pageant. I sold it 6 months ago for a record price. This would never have happened!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 21, 2015
Amazingly, Trump toned it down a bit the next morning, telling the TODAY show, "Steve Harvey is a great guy, I like the way he got out and did it. It simply was a terrible error."
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"Things happen, it's live television."
And if he still owned the pageant, what would President Trump have done? "I think I'd make them a co-winner. It'd be very cool."
Of course the Internet had a field day with this one, including Justin Bieber:
The best #SteveHarvey meme I've seen pic.twitter.com/Z7kV5MwZ2F
— Sunayana Suresh (@sunayanasuresh) December 21, 2015
"We asked 1 person to announce the new Miss Universe."
— Spencer Althouse (@SpencerAlthouse) December 21, 2015
Steve Harvey: Miss Colombia
Survey says!!!! pic.twitter.com/f3AordfrjP
But ultimately this all raises a pretty good question. We're still having beauty pageants in 2015?
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weird that putting a bunch of women on a stage and evaluating their appearances is still a thing
— lord crunkington 1312 🇵🇭 (@postcrunk) December 21, 2015
Wish Steve Harvey said "OK folks. I have to apologize: Miss Universe is exploitative sexist garbage. Also it only includes earthlings!"
— brian braiker (@slarkpope) December 21, 2015
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