Miss Universe pageant executive's future revealed after 'disrespectful' comments to contestant
Topics: News, World News, Mexico, Thailand
Kit Roberts
Featured Image Credit: NDTV
Topics: News, World News, Mexico, Thailand
An executive for the Miss Universe pageant faces an uncertain future after a viral video showed him allegedly insulting one of the contestants.
Several contestants walked out in protest after Nawat Itsaragrisil berated Fatima Bosch, who was representing Mexico at the pageant. The incident occurred after Bosch did not participate in a photoshoot intended to promote the event.
A Facebook live video shows executive Itsaragrisil berating contestants and insulting Bosch in particular.
Bosch was among a number of contestants to leave room, telling Itsaragrisil as she did so: "As women, you need to show respect for us. I’m here representing a country and it’s not my fault that you have problems with my organization."
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Now, the organisation has made a decision on Itsaragrisil's future.
Miss Universe President Raúl Rocha has announced that Itsaragrisil will be restricted from the 74th pageant.
In a statement given in Spanish with English subtitles, Rocha said: "I have restricted Nawat's participation in the events that are part of the 74th Miss Universe competition, limiting it as much as possible or eliminating it entirely.
"I will not allow the values of respect and dignity towards women to be violated. [I have] great indignation towards Nawat for the public aggression he committed against Fátima Bosch, Miss Universe Mexico, whom he humiliated, insulted, and showed lack of respect to, [with] serious abuse by calling security to intimidate a defenseless woman."
He added: "Nawat, you need to stop."
Rocha added that the presentation of sashes to contestants had even been postponed to ensure that Itsaragrisil would not have any participation.
Itsaragrisil had been acting as the National Director of Miss Universe Thailand, and has since made a number of public apologies for the incident, including one in which he could be seen to be crying as he spoke to reporters.
Apologising to contestants directly, he said: "I want to take this opportunity to say something about something that's happened, because I am a human.
"I think you must understand the pressure is a lot, I am a human sometimes. I cannot control. By the way, I have not intend[ed] to harm anyone because I respect all of you. I am so sorry it happened... If anyone was affected and not comfortable with what happened, I am so sorry."
However, he denied calling Bosch a 'dummy' in the tirade, claiming that he had actually said 'damage'.
Miss Universe 2025 is scheduled to take place in Pak Kret, Thailand, on 21 November.