Former Miss Universe decide Omar Harfouch is escalating his battle with the Miss Universe Group, claiming he’s now exploring authorized motion after resigning from the judging panel and accusing the group of great misconduct within the days main as much as the competitors. Harfouch surprised pageant watchers when he abruptly exited the choice committee on November 18 and publicly alleged that the Prime 30 finalists have been pre-selected by what he known as an “impromptu jury,” earlier than delegates from 136 international locations took the preliminary stage. The Miss Universe Group swiftly denied the accusations, however Harfouch says the controversy has solely strengthened his resolve.
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Former Miss Universe Choose Strikes Towards Authorized Motion After Miss Mexico’s Victory
In the future after the November 21 crowning of Miss Mexico Fátima Bosch as Miss Universe 2025, Harfouch confirmed he has entered the early levels of pursuing a proper criticism. “I’ve formally consulted one of many main legislation companies in New York to look at the potential submitting of a proper criticism earlier than the Workplace of the Legal professional Common towards the Miss Universe Group,” he wrote on Instagram.
He mentioned the problems below evaluate embrace fraud, abuse of energy, corruption, deception, breach of contract, battle of curiosity, and emotional and reputational damages.
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Talking to PEOPLE, Harfouch claimed his group waited for the winner to be introduced earlier than shifting ahead. He acknowledged he and his group “have been ready to see if Miss Mexico gained earlier than we began to pursue authorized motion, and he or she did win.”
He added that his motive is easy. He desires “to convey justice to contestants, particularly the 106 international locations who have been kicked out three days earlier than the present by a mysterious ‘entity’ [the impromptu jury].”
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Group Denies ‘Secret Jury’ As Ex-Choose Alleges Winner Was Pre-Chosen
In an announcement shared to the pageant’s official Instagram on November 18, the Miss Universe Group categorically denied Harfouch’s allegations.
Their response acknowledged that no “impromptu jury” was created, no exterior group was approved to guage delegates or choose finalists, and all judging adopted commonplace, clear MUO protocols. The group has not issued any further feedback following Harfouch’s announcement of potential authorized motion.
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Harfouch additionally alleged he knew upfront that Fátima Bosch could be topped Miss Universe 2025. In accordance with him, he predicted the winner sooner or later earlier than the pageant throughout an interview for an upcoming HBO mission. He additional claimed that Miss Universe proprietor Raúl Rocha had tried to strain him to vote for Bosch, asserting Rocha had enterprise dealings with Bosch’s father.
His group is now evaluating how and when to proceed with a proper criticism in New York, with Harfouch insisting his mission is to assist the various contestants he says have been unfairly impacted.
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Miss Universe President’s Public Outburst At Fátima Bosch Sparks International Backlash
Harfouch’s accusations, paired along with his vow to pursue authorized motion, have solely added to one of the scrutinized Miss Universe competitions in years.
Earlier this month, tensions contained in the Miss Universe ecosystem boiled over throughout a now-viral incident involving the group’s Thailand president, Nawat Itsaragrisil. Footage streamed on the official Miss Universe Thailand Fb web page confirmed Nawat calling the newly topped Miss Universe Fátima Bosch to the entrance of the room, demanding she “clarify herself” for lacking a sponsor shoot earlier within the day.
Visibly uncomfortable, Miss Mexico declined to take part, calmly stating she didn’t want to be “publicly reprimanded.” Nawat abruptly minimize her off, known as her “dumb,” after which instructed safety to take away her from the venue.
As Bosch walked out, a number of delegates instantly stood in solidarity. Amongst them was Victoria Theilvig, who brazenly condemned the conduct earlier than storming out herself. “That is about ladies’s rights,” she mentioned. “We’ve got respect for everybody, however this isn’t how issues could be dealt with. To trash one other lady. It’s past disrespectful. That’s why I’m taking my coat and I’m going.”
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Miss Jamaica To Stay In ICU After Devastating On-Stage Fall
Amid the swirling controversies surrounding this 12 months’s Miss Universe competitors, one other heartbreaking improvement has shaken the pageant group. Miss Jamaica Gabrielle Henry is anticipated to stay hospitalized within the intensive care unit for a minimum of one other week after struggling a extreme fall from the Miss Universe stage in Thailand on Wednesday.
In accordance with the Miss Universe Jamaica group, the 28-year-old contestant is being intently monitored at Paolo Rangsit Hospital, the place she is surrounded by her mom and sister. “Gabby isn’t doing in addition to we’d have hoped, however the hospital continues to deal with her accordingly,” her sister shared in an replace on Friday.
Medical doctors have ordered Henry to remain within the ICU for no less than seven days as she continues receiving specialised care.
Miss Universe Season Outlined By Controversy, Questions, And Calls For Accountability
Because the mud settles on one of the chaotic Miss Universe seasons in current reminiscence, the group now finds itself going through scrutiny on a number of fronts. Omar Harfouch’s vow to pursue authorized motion has intensified present issues about transparency and equity, whereas the viral confrontation involving Miss Universe Thailand’s president has solely amplified public debate about how contestants are handled behind the scenes.
And with Miss Jamaica Gabrielle Henry nonetheless hospitalized within the ICU after her terrifying fall, the worldwide pageant group has shifted from admiration to alarm.
