Steve Harvey says Miss Universe gaffe not a publicity stunt

MANILA, Philippines - Host Steve Harvey speaks up yet again about his mistake at the recently concluded 64th Miss Universe pageant.

It can be remembered that Harvey erroneously named Ariadna Gutierrez of Colombia as the winner of the pageant instead of Philippines's Pia Wurtzbach.

READ: Miss Colombia says Miss Universe destroyed her dreams in 4 minutes

In his syndicated US radio show "Steve Harvey Morning Show" on Monday, the host said the snafu was not a publicity stunt.

This comes after speculations that the mix-up was orchestrated to drum up more interest for the Miss Universe pageant.

"Why the hell would I do that?" he said, adding that he is "already famous."

"Do you really think I wanted to be famous like this? In my wildest dreams you could not have told me this, not in a million years. I had to walk back out there and do what I thought was the right thing for Miss Philippines,” Harvey added.

Harvey admitted he has not been able to talk to Ariadna yet.

"I haven’t been able to reach out and talk to Miss Colombia. Have I tried? Yes, but I haven’t gotten a response," he said.

IN PHOTOS: Pia Wurtzbach elegant in photo shoot as Miss Universe

"My only regret is how this woman must have felt, and none of us know what that is. I felt for her more than me," Harvey added, however, that Pia deserved to be crowned as Miss Universe because "she's the real winner."

Both Pia and Ariadna have been speaking to the media about their experience in the recently concluded pageant as the 26-year-old beauty queen starts her reign as the new Miss Universe.