A monumental faux pas for the Miss Universe

We had a ball watching the replay of the major monumental faux pas that happened to Ms. Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach who at first we all thought lost the Miss Universe Crown to Ms. Ariadna Gutierrez Arevalo of Colombia as announced by the evening’s host, Steve Harvey. Then minutes later after Miss Colombia was already wearing her sash and crown, the sullen faced Steve Harvey made another announcement  saying that there has been a mistake, and apologized for this faux pas and informed the people attending the beauty pageant that Miss Universe was won by Miss Philippines… Ms. Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach!

What a great drama on a world stage with millions or billions watching the Miss Universe Pageant on their satellite TV and thus ending the 42-year drought for the Philippines after Ms. Gloria Diaz won it for the first time in 1969 and in 1973 Ms. Margie Moran won this coveted title. Steve Harvey told the audience, “I feel horrible for this young woman and I take full responsibility for this mistake.”

Indeed, Steve Harvey’s mistake was that there were three women left on stage and he first called the runner up and that title went to Miss USA then as we later saw that cue card, he should have called for the first runner up and it was clearly written that this title went to Miss Colombia. But then perhaps in his excitement, Steve Harvey failed to call for the runner up or got mixed up and called Miss Colombia as Miss Universe and we all saw that she was given the sash with that title and the Miss Universe Crown was placed on her head. Miss Philippines was then escorted to the background while Miss Colombia was waving her hands thanking the crowd. Then Steve Harvey had to correct his mistake. But this faux pas will be remembered forever!

Hours later the netizens on Facebook went wild, spewing fire and venom on Steve Harvey for the grandiose mistake he committed. But then this is what happens to us when we are all emotionally charged and of course who wouldn’t get frustrated or mad at this faux pas? However if you really thought this thing through, I would like to believe that Steve Harvey was man enough to admit his mistake rather than hide it from the public and only to be exposed later. Many would hide their mistakes but not Steve Harvey!

Remember their judges came from Ernst & Young and their scorecard cannot be disputed. So I believe that Steve Harvey did the right thing in correcting his error right there! If at all, the only thing Miss Philippines missed was her victory walk. Perhaps she did make her victory walk but the crowd’s attention was now at the sobbing Ms. Ariadna Gutierrez Arevalo. Last year’s Miss Universe, who also came from Colombia, had to take the crown off Arevalo’s head and place this on Pia’s head. The sash also went to Miss Philippines.

I haven’t done this in my columns, but allow me to copy the comments of my friends in Facebook about this incident but I’m withholding their names. So here are some of these comments.

“Here’s the Epic moment for Pia, embarrassing moment for the host and shocking moment for Ms. Colombia. What a momentous day for the country!! A Ms. Universe crown after all these years of just being in the top 5 and top 10. Our third Ms. Universe crown. I think? And Pia made history! Tito Albert Andrada your gowns are one of the lucky charms! I’m so excited for you for all the good things coming your way. Congratulations Philippines! Congratulations Ms. Universe Pia! There is no doubt we have the most beautiful women in the world!”

Here’s another comment. “A woman that wouldn’t quit. PIA ALONZO WURTZBACH was 2013 Binibining Pilipinas 1ST Runner-up, 2014 Binibining Pilipinas Top 15 and 2015 Binibining Pilipinas Winner...and now, 2015 Miss Universe.” Here’s another comment. “Steve Harvey had a tough break. They gave him the wrong information, so he crowns the wrong winner. It’s a life lesson: Whatever they give you, they can take away instantaneously. Don’t believe anything until you get out of the building with it…..Miss Colombia will probably have more fame now than if she had won the thing, and since that’s what everybody wants, it’s a win-win for her.”

Here’s the last one. “What’s the scenario if he did not own? In the meantime, his mistake is etched in the memories of those two women forever. Trauma for Ms. Columbia. And did you watch closely how it divided the contestants after the crowning of Pia? Did you listen to his emceeing esp prior to the swimsuit competition? I think that is a misplaced attribution of humility.”

We have been watching the Miss Universe Pageant for many decades now, and this was its first mistake. So let’s move on as we have many other things to do! On a final note, perhaps the best comment that I saw on Facebook came from my good friend Broadcaster DyRC’s Junino Padilla’s — a photo of Steve Harvey making the announcement that Mar Roxas is the next president of the Philippines. Now that was really funny!

*  *  *

For email responses to this article, write to [email protected] or [email protected]. His columns can be accessed through www.philstar.com.