Miss Colombia Recalls "Humiliating" Miss Universe Mix-Up and Why She Thinks Donald Trump Was Right

Ariadna Gutierrez opens up about Steve Harvey's gaff

By Francesca Bacardi Dec 31, 2015 1:48 PMTags
Miss Colombia 2015, Ariadna Gutierrez, Miss Phillipines 2015, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, Miss Universe 2015Getty Images

Almost two weeks after one of the most cringe-worthy mix-ups on live TV, Miss Colombia opened up to Colombia's W radio Wednesday about the embarrassing moment that took place during the Miss Universe Pageant.

Miss Universe host Steve Harvey accidentally crowned Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez instead of Miss Philippines, and quickly removed the crown from her head and placed it on Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach.

"It was very humiliating for me, but also for the whole country and for all the people not only from Colombia but the other Latinos that were in the auditorium," Gutierrez said in the interview, per the Latin Times.

Gutierrez was so caught off guard at the time that she thought "this is going to be a joke, because in the rehearsals he used to play around with questions and I thought he was going to continue with that same tone to make people laugh."

Patrick Prather/Miss Universe Organization

After rumors began to spread that Harvey's mix-up was a ploy to spike ratings, Gutierrez told the publication, "If that was the goal, they succeeded." When the gaff went viral, Donald Trump, who used to own the telecast, tweeted his disappointment in Harvey and the show's new ownership and suggested in a phone call to NBC's Today that Wurtzbach and Gutierrez be named co-winners.

"For the first time I agree with him," Gutierrez said.

Watch: Miss Universe Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach Reacts to Pageant Win

Shortly after the pageant Gutierrez thanked her fans for all the support and wished the Philippines all the best in an Instagram photo. "I also want to congratulate the Philippines for their new Miss Universe. The happiness that you must be feeling must be incredible," she wote. "Life continues and in the future we will find out why things happen the way they happen."

The Family Feud host also turned to social media to say sorry for his faux pas. "I'd like to apologize wholeheartedly to Miss Colombia & Miss Philippines for my huge mistake. I feel terrible," he wrote. "Secondly, I'd like to apologize to the viewers at that I disappointed as well. Again it was an honest mistake. I don't want to take away from this amazing night and pageant. As well as the wonderful contestants. They were all amazing."