Miss Universe bans judge after ‘disrespectful’ exchange and disputed irregularity claims

Three days before the Miss Universe competition lights up Bangkok on Nov. 21, an unexpected shake-up has jolted the pageant world. Composer Omar Harfouch, announced as one of this year’s judges, abruptly stepped down and took his concerns straight to Instagram Stories, setting off a digital whirlwind.

Harfouch opened with a pointed message about his “profound confusion and concern.” He said he discovered, through social media, that an “impromptu jury” had allegedly been created to choose 30 semifinalists out of 121 delegates. According to him, “none of the real eight judges were present” when this group allegedly convened. He added, “The results of this selection are currently being kept secret.”

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In his second post, the composer doubled down, claiming the unofficial group was “composed of individuals with a significant potential conflict of interest due to some personal relationships with some of the Miss Universe contestants.” He also alleged that the person “responsible for counting the votes and managing the results” could be tied to contestants as well, which he saw as “a further conflict of interest.”

Harfouch said he privately expressed his objections to Miss Universe officials. Shortly after, the organization posted a carousel of the “Beyond the Crown Selection Committee” on Nov. 17. Harfouch claimed the upload made things murkier, writing that the page “did not specify the roles played by these individuals.” He added that the response “created even greater confusion.”

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Then came the breaking point. In a final post, Harfouch wrote, “After having a disrespectful conversation with Raul Rocha about the lack of transparency in the Miss Universe voting process, I decided to resign from the jury and refuse to be part of this charade.” He added, “I will also not be playing the music composed for the event.”

The Miss Universe Organization Reacts

It didn’t take long for the Miss Universe Organization to answer publicly. On Nov. 18, the organization released a statement “to clarify certain inaccuracies regarding the Beyond the Crown Program and the official judging processes of the 74th Miss Universe competition.” MUO stated that Harfouch’s comments were incorrect, saying, “The Miss Universe Organization firmly clarifies that no impromptu jury has been created, that no external group has been authorized to evaluate delegates or select finalists, and that all competition evaluations continue to follow the established, transparent, and supervised MUO protocols.”

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Addressing his exit directly, the statement read, “Given Mr. Harfouch’s expressed confusion, his public mischaracterization of the program, and his stated desire not to participate, the Miss Universe Organization respectfully acknowledges his withdrawal from the official judging panel.”

Then came a rare move: MUO publicly barred Harfouch from using or associating himself with any Miss Universe branding. “The Miss Universe Organization prohibits him from using, displaying, referencing, or associating himself with any Miss Universe trademarks, service marks, logos, titles, or registered properties, in any format, medium, or communication, whether digital, written, or verbal.”

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The organization ended with a reminder to rely on verified information, saying, “The Miss Universe Organization encourages the public, media outlets, and fans worldwide to rely solely on verified MUO communications and to continue supporting the delegates whose leadership, service, and dedication reflect the true values of Miss Universe.”

The countdown to coronation night continues, but the backstage flare-ups have added unexpected twists weeks prior to the big night. While this judge-gate may sizzle in the headlines, the spotlight ultimately returns to the delegates who have been preparing for their moment under the Bangkok lights.

The final competition of the Miss Universe pageant is scheduled to take place on November 21 at 8 a.m. Thailand time. In the United States, the event will be broadcast on Telemundo and Peacock on November 20 due to the time difference. The broadcast will be hosted by Carlos Adyan, Jessica Carrillo, Jacqueline Bracamontes, and Danilo Carrera, as reported by NBCUniversal. Coverage will begin at 7 p.m. ET.