<<Print>>Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte does not want Steve Harvey to repeat as the Miss Universe host following an embarrassing on-air blunder last year where he named the incorrect winner.
Harvey misread his cue card at the end of the Miss Universe 2015 pageant, announcing Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutiérrez as the winner and Miss Philippines Pia Wurtzbach as first runner-up. Gutiérrez was crowned before Harvey realized his mistake — that it was actually Wurtzbach who won. It was Harvey’s first time hosting the pageant.
Even though his country’s delegate won, President Duterte does not want a repeat of last year. The Miss Universe 2016 pageant will be held in Manila, Philippines, in January.
Tourism secretary Wanda Teo relayed Duterte’s concerns during a press conference on Thursday,CNN Philippines reported.
“He cannot host. I am going to talk to the Miss Universe that he cannot host so that is my problem,” Duterte told Teo (translated by CNN Philippines). “I don’t want him to be the host of the Miss Universe.”
However, due to a five-year contract, Harvey will remain as host, Teo said. “So the President will not get mad, we may add a Filipina to co-host,” Teo said.
Harvey’s gaffe caused an outcry. He even invited both Wurtzbach and Gutiérrez to his talk show following the pageant, during which Harvey apologized to them and denied reports that he was drinking that evening and skipped rehearsal.
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