A Miss Universe executive has issued a tearful apology after a live video showed him in a heated confrontation with contestants, sparking accusations of disrespectful behavior. Nawat Itsaragrisil, an executive for Miss Universe Thailand, was filmed berating contestants ahead of a pageant event in Thailand, leading to a walkout and a formal condemnation from the global Miss Universe organization.
The controversy began during a Facebook Live session when Itsaragrisil confronted contestants, focusing his anger on Miss Mexico, Fatima Bosch. The dispute reportedly stemmed from Bosch’s failure to participate in a promotional photoshoot for Thailand, which Itsaragrisil claimed was due to her not following directions from Mexico’s pageant director. Bosch denied the claims, and the situation escalated when Itsaragrisil was heard using language that many interpreted as him calling her a “dummy” or “dumbhead.”
In response, Bosch and several other contestants walked out of the room in protest. As she left, Bosch told Itsaragrisil, “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.” The video quickly went viral, drawing widespread criticism. Following the backlash, Itsaragrisil posted an apology on Instagram and later broke down in tears during a press conference, stating, “I want to apologize to everyone. I had no idea how big this issue would become.”
However, he denied using the word “dumbhead,” claiming he actually said “damage.” This defense was met with skepticism, and the President of the Miss Universe Organization, Raul Rocha, released a separate video statement condemning Itsaragrisil’s “malicious” behavior, stating that he had “humiliated and insulted” Bosch and “forgot the true meaning of what it means to be a genuine host.”
