American TV host Steve Harvey drew flak from pageant fans last year when he mistakenly announced the wrong winner in the 2015 Miss Universe—and now he’s back to host the same pageant this year.
Harvey told the Miss Universe organization that he wants to personally apologize to Filipinos after making a hash of announcing the country’s bet Pia Wurtzbach as the new title-holder, Tourism Undersecretary Kat de Castro told ABS-CBN News.
Last December, Harvey incorrectly announced that Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez is the winner of the pageant when actually the title was supposed to go to Miss Philippines Pia Wurtzbach. He has since asked for forgiveness from both the Filipina beauty queen and Gutierrez and their fans.
“He wants to apologize to the Filipinos who were hurt because of what happened,” de Castro told DZMM, adding that President Rodrigo Duterte was surprised to learn that Harvey will be returning as host.
“Nagulat din siya. Sabi niya, ‘Bakit?’ Dagdag pa niya, ‘He is a disaster.’ Ginanun ako ni Presidente. Eh sabi ko, ‘Sir, mukhang iyon na po talaga ang naging desisyon ng mga taga-Miss Universe.’ Tumawa na lang siya,” de Castro shared.
The Miss Universe Organization has yet to give any other details about the country’s hosting of the pageant.
This is the first time the Philippines will host the Miss Universe pageant twice since 1994.The country’s bet Maxine Medina told CNN that she is confident of bringing the country’s first back-to-back win at the 65th Miss Universe pageant.
