Colombians rally around fallen queen; lawyer eyes suit vs Miss Universe firm
MANILA, Philippines — A major booboo on the part of Ms Universe host Steve Harvey sent Colombians dishing out emotionally charged statements on the day of the pageant, with one lawyer going as far as saying he would file a complaint against the event organizers.
“The crown is a right they can’t take away from us. At this moment, writing a complaint with Granados and Lombana ,” Twitter user DELAESPRIELLAE said in Spanish.
The website caracol.com.co said the user was known lawyer Abelardo dela Espriella, and the other two lawyers being referred to were Jaime Granados and Jaime Lombana.
DELAESPRIELLAE said that the damage was “not only material, but also moral.”
“40 million Colombians affected. The damage is incalculable,” he said.
A cousin of Ariadna Gutiérrez Arévalo, who was the reigning Ms Universe for only more than two minutes, was as indignant.
“They robbed us of the crown. They destroyed the dream of an entire country because of this huge error. They subjected her to public shame,” Álvaro Arévalo was quoted as saying in La Libertad.
But if some were furious, others were less confrontational.
“Everything happens for a reason. I am happy about everything I did and for achieving my dream,” Ariadna Arévalo Gutiérrez herself was quoted as saying in Spanish by cronicadelquindio.com.
Taliana Vargas, 2008 Ms Universe first runner-up, also issued a statement of support for her fellow Colombian.
“For me, you are the most beautiful woman in the universe. The world is with you,” she said in La Libertad.
“I already know that story. Life always has marvelous things prepared for someone. Congratulations to (Ariadna Gutierrez Arévalo). You are beautiful!” Local singer Carlos Vives said in the same publication.
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, for his part, tweeted a message of support for the Colombian beauty.
“For us, you will always be our queen,” he said.
The Ms Universe organizers issued an apology in their page.
“The excitement of the live broadcast was evident tonight on stage at Miss Universe, with over 10 million votes from fans tabulated live. Unfortunately, being live means that human error may come into play. We witnessed tonight’sannouncement of the wrong winner. Our sincere apologies to Miss Colombia Universe, Miss Universe Philippines, their families and fans,” they said.
“Congratulations to Miss Universe 2015, Miss Universe Philippines,” they added. SFM
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