Several contestants walked out of a Miss Universe event after an official from host nation Thailand publicized Miss Mexico in a tense confrontation.
In a pre-einant ceremony, Miss Universe Thailand Director Nawat from Fatima Bosch in front of many participants for failing to post promotion content.
When he objected, Mr. Nawat called security and threatened to disqualify those who supported him. MS Bosch then left the room and the others joined her in solidarity.
Video of the incident, which was streamed live, was shared online. The Miss Universe Organizer (Mero) criticized the “malicious” behavior of Mr. Nawat, for which he has since apologized.
Miss Universe Contestants, who are winners of national pageants in their home countries, attended Tuesday’s event in their gowns and gowns.
Some can be heard shouting at Mr Nawat in the video, after which he raised his voice to rebuke Ms Bosch and repeatedly told her to stop talking.
As many of them stood up to show support, Mr. Nawat said: “If someone wants to continue the competition, sit down. If you walk out, the rest of the girls will continue.”
Despite this, most of the women in the video can be seen standing, with many heading towards the door.
After leaving the event on Tuesday, Ms Bosch told the press the 60-year-old executive was “disrespectful” and said he called her “dumb”.
Mr. Nawat disputed this, claiming his words were misunderstood.
He is widely reported to have called the 25-year-old a “dingan”. But in a press conference he later admitted that he had said that he had caused “injury”.
His behavior prompted a stern rebuke from Mua, which sent a delegation of international executives to take over the running of the competition.
In a video statement, Mua President Raul Rocha said that Mr. Nawat “forgot the true meaning of what it means to be a true host”.
He said the Thai official had “humiliated and shown a lack of respect” to MS Bosch, and had committed “gross abuse in calling a defenseless woman”.
Mr. Nawat’s participation in the pageant will be limited “as much as possible” or eliminated entirely, he said, adding the MOO will take “legal actions” against him.
“I want to say again that Miss Universe is a platform of power for women so that their voices are heard in the world,” said Mr. Rocha.
Among the walk on Tuesday is the reigning Miss Universe Victoria Kjaer Tilvig of Denmark.
“This is about women’s rights,” she said as she left the event. “This is not how things are handled. To marry a girl is disrespectful… so I took off my clothes and I walked.”
Ms Bosch later said in an interview: “I just want my country to know, I’m not afraid to have my voice heard. I have a purpose.
“We are in the 21st century. I am not a doll to be made, restored and my clothes changed,” she added.
“I came here to be a voice for all women and all women fighting for causes and to tell my country that I am fully committed to that.”
Mr. Nawat’s video angered fans of the pageant, many of whom criticized his actions and praised Bosch’s response to Bosch.
In a statement on social media, Mr. Nawat said: “If anyone feels bad, uncomfortable, or affected, I apologize to everyone. I apologize to everyone. I apologize to everyone. I apologize to all the women who are 75.