A scandal erupted at a pre-event for the 74th Miss Universe competition in Bangkok, Thailand, as contestants from multiple countries staged a walkout in response to a Thai director’s offensive remarks.
According to Reuters, the incident took place on November 4 during a preliminary gathering ahead of the main Miss Universe finals. Representatives from around the world were mingling and greeting each other warmly when Nawat Itsaragrisil, a Thai executive affiliated with the pageant, took the stage and quickly changed the mood with an aggressive speech.
In a shocking moment, Nawat called out Miss Mexico, Fátima Bosch, for allegedly refusing to follow the organizers’ instructions. The committee had asked participants to post promotional content for the event on their social media accounts, but Bosch declined, citing the need to consult with her national director.
Nawat interpreted this as defiance and publicly reprimanded her, reportedly saying, “If you follow the orders from your national director, you are a dumb head.”
Stunned by the insult, Bosch responded, “I have a voice. You are not respecting me as a woman,” before storming out of the event.
She was soon followed by other contestants, including last year’s Miss Universe winner, Denmark’s Victoria Kjær Theilvig, in a powerful act of solidarity. Nawat, in turn, tried to prevent further exits, ordering security to “shut the doors” and threatening to proceed with the event without those who left.
The confrontation, which was broadcast live online, quickly went viral, drawing widespread condemnation toward Nawat for his disrespectful behavior.
As backlash intensified, the Miss Universe committee issued an emergency statement, revealing that it is considering legal and administrative actions against Nawat, including the removal of his authority.
Nawat held a tearful press conference to issue a formal apology. Despite the uproar, the official opening ceremony for Miss Universe went ahead as planned, with both Nawat and Miss Mexico present.
The 74th Miss Universe finals are scheduled to take place in Thailand on November 21.
Sources: Daum
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