Steve Harvey Sparks Controversy During Miss Universe By Asking Miss India To Meow

It wouldn’t be a Miss Universe Pageant without longtime host Steve Harvey making a miscue of some sort during the proceedings.

After announcing Miss South Africa as the second runner-up on Sunday’s 70th Miss Universe competition, Harvey turned his attention to the two remaining contestants, representing Paraguay and India, respectively. “Congratulations, Portugal,” Harvey said before catching himself and correcting his mistake.

“They wrote Portugal on the damn sign, trying to play me… they’re trying to get me again. But I’m not going for it this year,” Harvey stated. “Congratulations, Paraguay. They had Portugal on the damn sign. I looked dead at it. Y’all saw it. Don’t try to blame this on me this year.”

However, that wasn’t the only moment of controversy from Harvey, as viewers also took exception to his question for eventual winner Miss India, Harnaaz Sandhu. While other contestants were asked about their accomplishments, Sandhu was asked to make an animal impression.

“I hear you do some pretty good animal impersonations. Let’s hear your best one,” Harvey said, much to Sandhu’s surprise. “Oh, my God, Steve, I was not expecting to do this on the world stage,” she replied before going on to let out some impressive “meows.”

In an infamous moment at the 2015 pageant, Harvey accidentally announced first runner-up, Miss Colombia, as the victor over the actual winner Miss Philippines. He also made an error at the 2019 competition when he threw to a video package by referencing Miss Philippines when it was actually Miss Malaysia.