Steve Harvey’s Wife Defends Him Over Miss Universe Gaffe as Questions About Teleprompter Arise

Steve Harvey holds up the card showing the winners after he incorrectly announced Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez as the winner at the Miss Universe pageant on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2015, in Las Vegas. Miss Philippines Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach was named Miss Universe. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Other contestants comfort Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez, center, after she was incorrectly crowned Miss Universe at the Miss Universe pageant on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2015, in Las Vegas. Miss Philippines Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach was named Miss Universe. (AP Photo/John Locher)

 

But Miss Australia Monika Radulovic said on the Australian show Sunrise that all of the candidates saw Miss Philippines named on the teleprompter as the winner.

“The rest of us, the 77 other contestants were on the sidelines, on the stage, and we actually saw on the teleprompter, it said ‘Philippines, please take your first walk as Miss Universe’ after Colombia was crowned, so we were looking at each other thinking ‘what are we waiting?’” Radulovic said.

The Miss Universe organization didn’t pin the blame on any one person, issuing a statement that just apologized for the mistake.

The excitement of live TV was evident tonight on The Miss Universe stage with over 10 million live fan votes tabulated. Unfortunately, a live telecast means that human error can come into play,” the organization said.

“We witnessed that tonight when the wrong winner was initially announced. Our sincerest apologies to Miss Universe Colombia 2015, Ariadna Gutierrez-Arévalo, Miss Universe Philippines 2015, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, their families and fans.”