Steve Harvey: Miss Universe 2015 winner announced wrong

'I'd like to apologize wholeheartedly to Miss Colombia & Miss Philippines for my huge mistake,' Harvey tweeted Sunday

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Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Everyone has a bad day at work, but Sunday’s Miss Universe competition was especially rough for host Steve Harvey, who announced the incorrect winner of the pageant.

When the contestants were narrowed down to three — Miss USA, Miss Colombia, and Miss Philippines — Harvey began to reveal the winners in reverse order. First, the Family Feud host gave Miss USA Olivia Jordan the third place title, and then announced Miss Colombia, Ariadna Gutiérrez, as the winner. After Gutiérrez received the crown, sash, and a bouquet of flowers, the 21-year-old model and TV presenter basked in the moment and waved to the crowd.

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Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Minutes later, Harvey appeared onscreen again: “I have to apologize, the first runner-up is Colombia,” Harvey announced amid the crowd’s cheers. Not sure the world was convinced of his error, Harvey showed the card in his hand to the camera and accepted full responsibility for the error. “Let me just take control of this. This is exactly what’s on the card,” he continued. “I will take responsibility for this. It was my mistake … horrible mistake.”

The title of Miss Universe 2015 actually belongs to Miss Philippines, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach. Following an awkward pause, Miss Philippines took center stage and accepted the honor.

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Harvey also tweeted and deleted a misspelled apology on Twitter following the broadcast. “I want to apologize emphatically to Miss Philippians and Miss Columbia,” he wrote. “This was a terribly honest human mistake and I am so regretful.”

Not long after, Harvey followed up with another, longer apology to the newly crowned Miss Universe, runner-up Gutiérrez, and the viewers at home.

Just in time to ring in the new year, watch the three most awkward minutes of television in 2015 above. And make sure to read our full recap of all the ups and downs from the Miss Universe broadcast.

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