Steve Harvey has message for Filipinos ahead of Miss Universe 2018 coronation

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Dec 14 2018 08:38 PM | Updated as of Dec 14 2018 09:38 PM

Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach gives a pair of eyeglasses to Steve Harvey right before the announcement of the 2016 titlist when the pageant was held in Manila. Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News

American TV presenter and comedian Steve Harvey arrived Friday in Bangkok, Thailand, three days before the Miss Universe coronation which he is set to host for a fourth straight year.

Harvey, host of the US version of “Little Big Shots,” is probably best remembered by many Filipino pageant fans for his mistaken announcement of the Miss Universe 2015 winner.

That viral, “epic fail” moment — as it was dubbed at the time — saw Harvey’s painfully awkward apology over having announced Colombia’s Ariadna Gutierrez as the new Miss Universe, when in fact it was the Philippines’ Pia Wurtzbach who had won the coveted title.

Speaking with ABS-CBN News’ Dyan Castillejo on Friday, Harvey said he has yet to start rehearsals for the Miss Universe 2018 coronation day to be held on December 17 at Bangkok’s Impact Arena.

“The only thing I have to practice is at the very end, when I say who it is — that’s the only thing I’ve got to get right. I don’t care about where I’ve got to stand, I don’t care about which side to walk down!” he said, in jest.

“I only care about when I say, ‘And the new Miss Universe is…’ I need you all to pray for me,” he added.

Harvey comedically relived the cringe-worthy moment in Manila in 2017, when he shared the stage with Wurtzbach shortly before the announcement of the 2016 Miss Universe titlist.

“The Philippines was really great,” he said of the pageant being held here. “Lots of support from Pia. Pia has always turned out to be really great for me, so I’ve had a lot of fun with the Philippines. They were really, really nice when we did the Miss Universe in the Philippines. Very, very warm people.”

This year, Catriona Gray is hoping to bring home the Philippines’ fourth Miss Universe crown after Wurtzbach, Margie Moran (1973), and Gloria Diaz (1969).

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