TONGUE IN CHEEK | Miss Universe host says 'Merry Easter'

Washington, United States - Steve Harvey, the man who famously gave the Miss Universe crown to the wrong contestant, has now offered the world Easter greetings – on Christmas Day.

"Merry Easter, y'all!" ran the caption to a picture of smiling Harvey, smoking a cigar and flashing a peace sign. The picture was posted Friday (early Saturday in the Philippines) on Harvey's social media accounts.

Harvey poked fun at himself – and his gaffes – in his first public appearance since the high-profile fiasco.

Harvey, a 58 year-old comedian and talk show host, misread his cue card in front of a global television audience at the Miss Universe pageant on December 20 and announced that Miss Colombia, Ariadna Gutierrez, had triumphed.

Moments later he apologized and announced Miss Philippines, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, was the actual winner.

Harvey apologized on Twitter for what he called "an honest mistake," but identified the women as "Miss Philippians and Miss Columbia." He quickly corrected the spelling mistakes and deleted the tweet.

Viewers can expect to see a lot more of him: "Steve Harvey Signs Multi-Year Deal to Host Miss Universe" ran the headline on the web site Comedyhype.com. Harvey posted a link to the site on his Facebook page.

The contract was signed just before the pageant aired, and the deal "is for at least three years, possibly even as many as six or seven," read the brief text, quoting an ET Online story.

After the pageant mixup several people took to Twitter to claim that the affair was a publicity stunt aimed at boosting both Harvey and the event's sagging TV ratings.

"I generally don't buy into conspiracy theories, but this is the most attention the Miss Universe pageant has gotten since, well, ever," said newspaper sportswriter Les East.

"Steve Harvey's mistake was all a conspiracy created for two purposes: Make Miss Universe relevant again. Make Steve Harvey relevant again," another tweet said.

The online magazine Salon dismissed the doubters as "Miss Universe truthers" – an American term for conspiracy theory devotees – that "show how paranoid we've become."

source: interaksyon.com

Miss Germany apologizes to Pia Wurtzbach after post-pageant tirade

After granting a post-pageant interview where she aired her displeasure over the outcome of this year’s Miss Universe pageant as a result of the controversial mistake of host Steve Harvey, the Miss Universe Germany organization issued a statement of apology on behalf of Miss Germany Sarah-Lorraine Riek on their Facebook page.

“Miss Universe Germany Sarah-Lorraine feels sorry for her colleague and friend Miss Colombia. This must have been the worst nightmare. She never intended to offend Miss Philippines in any way. She feels sorry for both girls. As well for Pia Miss Philippines that she didn’t have her real crowning moment,” went the first part of the three paragraph statement written in the third person.

“She is really sorry if the video suggests anything else than that. It’s an emotional roller coaster what happened yesterday in Las Vegas. She and all the other girls felt so sorry for Colombia at that moment. They could all imagine how this must feel. That’s not the final result moment what you wish for anyone. And also for Pia.”

The Facebook page of Miss Universe–Germany, however, seems to have been taken down along with the apology.

In the video of her post-pageant interview that was posted on the Facebook page of pageant analysis site Missosology, Riek — who failed to land in the Top 15 semifinals — said she was upset at the result and thought Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutiérrez Arévalo “deserved to win” because “no one of us (the other contestants) voted for Philippines.”

Riek’s remarks immediately elicited angry comments from Filipino fans of Pia which may have contributed to Riek’s change of heart just hours after the viral video of her interview was posted.

Another factor that may have also contributed to Riek’s rapid change of heart was the possible belated realization, that Pia is, in fact, “half-German.”

“Sarah-Lorraine is very happy a half-German girl brings the crown of course a bit to Germany as well! Congrats to our friends from Philippines from winning the crown after all. She wishes Pia all the best for this year as Miss Universe 2015,” the statement concluded.

While Harvey may have messed up the announcement of the Miss Universe winner, the outcome was never in doubt as far as the judges were concerned.

In his recent podcast following the pageant, celebrity blogger Perez Hilton, one of the four judges in the competition, revealed that all of them voted unanimously for Pia.

“I voted for Miss Philippines, and I found out afterwards that it was unanimous. Every single judge in that panel, all four of us, voted for Miss Philippines to be number one.”

“So then, when Steve Harvey announced that Miss Colombia had won, I was in shock. I couldn’t even speak…we were all in shock, we knew something was off…I thought, ‘This is rigged’. But then it became clear when Steve comes out and announces that a mistake was made,” Hilton concluded.

source: interaksyon.com

Miss Philippines is 2015 Miss Universe

LAS VEGAS- Miss Philippines was named Miss Universe Sunday in a drama-filled turn worthy of a telenovela.

The pageant's host, comedian Steve Harvey, misread his cue card which he initially said had Miss Colombia, Ariadna Gutierrez, as the winner.

She was briefly, very fleetingly, crowned in Las Vegas and started the customary smiling and waving.

But not for long.

As she blew kisses, Harvey awkwardly said "I have to apologize. The first runner-up is Colombia."

"Miss Universe 2015 is Philippines," he added, with the Colombian contestant left like a deer in headlights and the actual winner, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, looking stunned.

And all on live television with millions watching from Manila to Manchester.

"It was my fault," Harvey stammered as a perplexed audience held its breath.

"Please don't hold it against the ladies," added the talk show host.

The contest, held in Las Vegas this year, is wildly popular in Latin America and much of Asia.

Later in his Twitter account, @IAmSteveHarvey, the host apologized for his mistake: "I want to apologize emphatically to Miss Philippians (sic) and Miss Columbia. This was a terribly honest human mistake and I am so regretful."

Congrats from Malacanang
Malacanang immediately sent a congratulatory note, saying the entire country “unites in celebration” of Wurtzbach’s win.

“Throughout her journey, Ms. Wurtzbach showcased to the world the characteristic beauty, intelligence, and elegance for which Filipinas are renowned. In the first few moments of the original announcement, she showed tremendous poise and control, and even more tremendous graciousness when the real verdict was finally announced,” said Palace spokesman Edwin Lacierda.

“We congratulate her for this success as the third Miss Universe of the Philippines, following in the footsteps of Ms. Gloria Diaz and Ms. Margie Moran-Floirendo,” he said.

Lacierda noted the Filipinos’ support of Wurtzbach.

“In bagging this victory, Ms. Wurtzbach not only serves as a tremendous source of pride for our people, but also holds up the banner of our women and of our country -- as a true representative of what the Filipina can achieve. Indeed, this triumph is the result not only of her beauty but also of her passion for positive change, as one who is confidently beautiful with the heart. Over 42 years and today, once more the Philippines shines forth with joy and celebration,” he said.

Advocate for HIV/AIDS prevention
Congresswoman Kaka Bag-ao (Lone District, Dinagat Islands), one of the principal authors of the Revised Philippine HIV/AIDS Policy Act in the House of Representatives and awaiting Senate approval, said: "I'm very happy that we do not only have a Miss Universe; we have a brave advocate for HIV/AIDS prevention. By taking on the issue, she is greatly helping in reducing stigma and discrimination."

Labor group the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines-Nagkaisa also welcomed "the positive and exponential presence" of Miss Universe into the campaign against Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). "Pia's leverage into the campaign against HIV and AIDS in the country is a morale booster to HIV/AIDS advocates and activists. She comes into the issue at a time when the campaign is at all-time low because of appalling high growth of incidence and everyone seemed not to care anymore. Ms. Wurtzbach's energy and vitality into the advocacy will radically change the equation," said TUCP spokesperson Alan Tanjusay.

source: interaksyon.com