Two judges from the Miss Universe pageant have resigned just days before the event, alleging scandal and rigging in the selection process. The judges, musician Omar Harfouch and football manager Claude Makélélé, expressed their concerns via social media.
Allegations of Rigging in the Selection Process
Omar Harfouch, a Lebanese-French musician, announced his resignation from the eight-member jury on Instagram. He claimed that an unauthorized “impromptu jury” had pre-selected finalists for the competition. This year, the Miss Universe pageant is scheduled to take place on Friday in Thailand.
According to Harfouch, this unofficial jury was formed to choose 30 finalists from 136 participating countries, excluding the official jury members. He expressed concern about potential conflicts of interest among these individuals due to personal connections with some contestants.
Response from the Miss Universe Organisation
In response to Harfouch’s claims, the Miss Universe Organisation issued a statement denying any legitimacy to the allegations. They clarified that no external group had been authorized to evaluate delegates or select finalists.
- The organisation suggested Harfouch may have referred to the Beyond the Crown programme, an independent initiative operating separately from the main competition.
- The selection committee for Beyond the Crown was announced just before Harfouch’s resignation.
Claude Makélélé’s Resignation
Shortly after Harfouch’s announcement, Claude Makélélé also resigned, citing “unforeseen personal reasons.” He emphasized his respect for the Miss Universe platform, noting it embodies empowerment, diversity, and excellence. Makélélé’s departure adds to the growing controversies surrounding this year’s event.
Controversies Leading Up to the Pageant
The Miss Universe Organisation faced criticism recently after comments made by the director of the Thailand event, Nawat Itsaragrisil, were deemed inappropriate. At a pre-pageant event, he publicly reprimanded Miss Mexico, Fatima Bosch, for failing to post promotional content on her social media platforms. This incident led Bosch and several other contestants to walk out in protest.
Despite Nawat’s assertion that his words were misinterpreted, the backlash prompted the Miss Universe Organisation to send a team of international executives to oversee the competition’s operations. This intervention underscores the escalating tensions within the organization as the pageant approaches.
