It might be time for Steve Harvey to retire from hosting pageants.
The stand-up comedian has a long history behind the mic when it comes to MC’ing game shows and international content, having been the face of FOX’s New Year’s Eve special since 2017 and the Miss Universe pageant since 2015. Harvey was once again front and center to lead proceedings when 90 women represented their countries at the 2019 Miss Universe contest in Atlanta, Georgia, that was won by South Africa’s Zozibini Tunzi, last night.
Before the main queen could be crowned, the winner of the National Costume Contest had to be announced. The segment gives the contestants the opportunity to show-off unique designs from their home country and is conducted prior to the big night.
This year’s winner was Miss Philippines Gazini Ganados. The only problem? That was not who Harvey was talking to when he mentioned it. “Earlier this week, all the contestants competed in a National Costume contest. Here’s a look at the winner, Miss Philippines,” said the 62-year-old.
He then commented on the dress of Miss Malaysia Shweta Sekhon, who stood beside him and said, “It’s not Philippines. It’s Malaysia.”
“Let me explain something to you. I just read that in the teleprompter. Y’all got to quit doing this to me. I can read,” the Family Feud host then said while trying to smooth over the mishap. “Now, they are trying to fix it now. See? This is what they did to me back in 2015 — played me short like that.”
This was, of course, not the first time that Steve had fumbled Miss Universe contestants’ names. While hosting his first pageant in 2015, Harvey embarrassingly announced the incorrect winner! By mistake, he declared that Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutiérrez has been crowned as the most beautiful woman in the universe, only for him to have to correct his error and clarify that Miss Philippines Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach had actually taken the title. Awkward!
This time, however, Steve got a reprieve, as the Miss Universe Organisation confirmed that this year’s Miss Philippines, had, in fact, won the National Costume Contest and that Miss Malaysia did not realize that although she had featured in the broadcast, the winner would be mentioned first.
Lost in translation, perhaps?
Hate is louder than love, but love is stronger than hate. If you focus on those who love you, you can blow over the haters. Most people hate you only because of the way other people love you. #MondayMotivation pic.twitter.com/QWQGW6QeDV
— Steve Harvey (@IAmSteveHarvey) December 9, 2019
