I didn’t skip Miss Universe 2015 rehearsals, Steve Harvey says

Steve Harvey, 58, addressed the issue about the error he committed during the Miss Universe 2015 coronation night, which he hosted on Dec. 20, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. On Jan. 4, Monday, he talked about the controversial gaffe during a segment on the “Steve Harvey Morning Show.”

Right after announcing Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez, 22, as the Miss Universe 2015 winner only to announce Miss Philippines Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, 26, as the real winner minutes later on live television, Harvey was accused of skipping rehearsals for the beauty pageant. In his show, the comedian clarified this saying he went to more rehearsals than he has ever gone to for anything.

“I did the entire table read, which is how they go through the whole script with you,” People quoted Harvey as saying. He pointed out that apparently, nobody knows the winner yet during the rehearsals.

According to Harvey, he attended the entire full walk-through of the Miss Universe 2015 show. He added that he was also there for the entire dress rehearsal.

After the Miss Universe 2015 mix-up, the pageant people were asked to come to the press conference, according to Harvey. He also explained that he went to the press conference, where he made all the apologies, although he was not scheduled to be there.

About erroneously announcing Miss Colombia as the winner, Harvey pointed out that he said the name that was on the card and everything was cool when he walked off. But after that, “all hell broke loose.”

Harvey also revealed that at backstage, he heard people saying he announced the wrong name. What was going on in his mind at the time was that he needed to do something and fix the confusion.

In another news, a lawmaker in the Philippines has strongly batted for Wurtzbach’s tax exemption on the prizes and earnings. Created in the Czech Republic, the Filipino beauty queen’s Miss Universe 2015 crown is made of diamonds, crystal, gold, blue sapphire and blue topaz and is estimated to be worth $300,000.

“The more the crown should not be taxed since the (gems) are part of the crown that should be exempt to acknowledge and give honour to her,” Manila Bulletin quoted Cagayan de Oro City Representative Rufus Rodriguez as saying. Wurtzbach was born in Germany but raised in Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines.