Two Miss Universe Judges Resign Amid Rigging Allegations

The Miss Universe competition has descended into scandal after two judges abruptly resigned, with one publicly accusing the pageant of being “rigged” and compromised by insider manipulation.

Omar Harfouch, a Lebanese-French businessman and former judge for the ongoing Miss Universe event in Bangkok, dropped a bombshell on Wednesday, claiming the outcome of the contest was pre-determined days before the final round. He is now considering legal action against the organization.

According to Harfouch, a secret vote was held two days before the finals to pre-select 30 contestants out of 136, conducted by individuals “who are not official members of the jury.” He added that the identity of the selected contestants was known only to “one individual” someone he claims is connected to a national pageant organization, raising concerns about serious conflicts of interest.

“I could not stand before the public and television cameras, pretending to legitimize a vote I never took part in,” Harfouch wrote on Instagram. “Some of the countries eliminated through this process could be at war, discriminated against, or geopolitically sensitive. Viewers would assume the jury made these decisions, and I cannot bear responsibility for a process I did not participate in.”

Perhaps most damning, Harfouch alleged that a member of the secret selection group was romantically involved with one of the contestants, casting even further doubt on the legitimacy of the competition.

Meanwhile, former professional soccer player Claude Makélélé also exited the judging panel just a day earlier, citing “unforeseen personal reasons” in a brief Instagram statement. While Makélélé’s post was more diplomatic, the back-to-back resignations have intensified scrutiny on the pageant’s inner workings.

In response to the scandal, the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) released a generic denial, stating:

“All judging procedures for the 74th Miss Universe competition remain official, transparent, and fully governed by MUO protocols… We encourage all audiences to refer exclusively to verified MUO communications.”

However, the explanation didn’t address Harfouch’s specific allegations including claims of shadow voting, personal bias, and romantic impropriety.

The 74th Miss Universe competition has already been plagued by controversy. Earlier this month, several contestants walked out after a co-owner berated Miss Mexico for skipping promotional events. Thai co-owner Nawat Itsaragrisil later issued a public apology.

Then on Wednesday, Miss Jamaica Gabrielle Henry fell off the stage and was stretchered away in a dramatic moment caught on camera. She is reportedly in stable condition, with no broken bones.

With the competition concluding Friday, it’s unclear how the mounting controversies will impact the final outcome or the credibility of Miss Universe moving forward.

Harfouch says he was “publicly used to give credibility to an election process that was already compromised,” and he’s considering legal action for what he described as misconduct and deception.

As pageant fans await the coronation, one thing is already certain: the real drama isn’t on the stage it’s behind the scenes.

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