FLOP No. 7 – Miss Universe Mix-Up (2015)
Gatheringpoint.new: The 50 Biggest Event Flops in History
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The Promise: The global Miss Universe broadcast was meant to be flawless pageantry—a live, polished international spectacle hosted by Steve Harvey.
What Happened: Harvey announced the wrong winner on live television. For minutes, Miss Colombia celebrated in front of a cheering crowd before Harvey returned, visibly shaken, to correct his error. The crown was removed and given to Miss Philippines—onstage, mid-broadcast.
What Failed: No envelope double-check system. No stage manager communication backup. The entire brand was undermined in seconds.
What We Learned: Don’t freelance the finale. Precision is not optional in live formats.
What an Event Pro Would’ve Advised: Train for the handoff. Use prompters, checks, and stage managers with override clearance. Practice the moment.
