BANGKOK, Nov 6 — What began as a glittering pageant in Bangkok has spiralled into one of Miss Universe’s biggest controversies yet complete with walkouts, public apologies, and a police raid over alleged gambling promotions.

The drama first erupted on Tuesday during the Sashing Ceremony when Miss Universe Mexico Fatima Bosch reportedly stormed out after a heated exchange with Nawat Itsaragrisil, the outspoken chairman of the Miss Universe Thailand Host Committee and CEO of Miss Grand International.

Footage circulating online showed Nawat arguing with Bosch before she left the room, followed by reigning Miss Universe 2024 Victoria Kjær Thelvåg and several others.

“If something costs you your dignity, you need to walk away,” claiming Nawat had called her “dumb,” Bosch later shared on her Instagram account in Spanish

The Miss Universe Mexico organisation swiftly condemned the incident as “unacceptable,” saying “no woman, under any circumstance, deserves to be insulted or humiliated.”Amid the uproar, the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) stepped in, vowing that the 74th edition of the competition would continue as planned and promising to uphold its values of “diversity, empowerment, and inclusion”.

In a video statement, MUO president Raúl Rocha Cantú said Nawat’s role would be “restricted or eliminated entirely”. 

“The decision came after he became the centre of attention instead of the contestants, humiliating and insulting a defenseless woman.

“No one has the right to harm or intimidate a woman, much less one representing her nation on our stage,” he said.

Nawat hit back, denying that he called Bosch “dumb” as she alleged, and insisting that MUO had “no authority to limit his work.” 

“We are the licence holder. Everything must run according to business operations. He posts first and asks questions later — that causes confusion among contestants,” he was quoted by Thai news outlet Khaosod English as telling local media.

But Nawat also acknowledged that he may have lost his temper. 

“Sometimes I lose control. If I made mistakes, I apologize to Miss Mexico. I may have been too angry, but I had no intention to diminish her,” he was quoted as saying by Khaosod English.

Tensions appeared to ease after all contestants attended a dinner cruise on the Chao Phraya River, but the peace didn’t last long.