Steve Harvey, the host of Miss Universe 2015 who declared the wrong winner, did not attend the rehearsals of the pageant’s ending, which included the winners’ announcement, a report said.
Citing a source, US entertainment news website Entertainment Tonight reported on Tuesday that Harvey “did not practice the ending.”
“Steve went to the beginning of rehearsals, but missed the last hour, at least. He did not practice the ending,” the source was quoted as saying.
The source went on to refute claims that Harvey’s mistake was a publicity stunt to rake in viewers for the pageant.
“Nobody could believe it,” the source in the ET report said.
READ: Miss Universe mistake crowns Colombia before Philippines
On Monday, the victory of Philippines’ bet Pia Wurtzbach was overshadowed by controversy as Harvey erroneously declared Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez as the winner. He then admitted his mistake and apologized.
READ: Steve Harvey apologizes for Miss Universe mix-up; misspells PH, Colombia
“Listen folks, let me just take control of this. This is exactly what’s on the card. I will take responsibility for this. It was my mistake. It was on the card. Horrible mistake… but I can show it to you right here. It was my mistake. Still a great night. Please don’t hold it against the ladies. We feel so badly, but it’s still a great night,” he said onstage.
The Miss Universe Organization has also apologized, saying that human error in a live event is inevitable. AJH
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