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LAS VEGAS (AP) — Donald Trump, who used to own the rights to Miss Universe, says last night's mixup "never would have happened" under his watch.
Host Steve Harvey incorrectly announced that Colombia's contestant was the New Miss Universe, when she was really first runner-up. She already had put on the crown when Harvey corrected himself, and told the audience that Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach of the Philippines was the true winner.
Trump later softened his tone, telling NBC's Today Show that Harvey is a "great guy" who handled it well. He said, "Things happen. It's live television."
Trump says if he were still in charge of the show, he'd make the women share the title, saying that would be "very cool."
%@AP Links
032-a-03-(Steve Harvey, Miss Universe host, in news conference after pageant)-"an honest mistake"-Miss Universe host Steve Harvey says no one feels worse than he does about his mistake in announcing that the first runner-up had won the Miss Universe crown. ((note audio quality)) (21 Dec 2015)
<<CUT *032 (12/21/15)££ 00:03 "an honest mistake"
007-a-07-(Steve Harvey, host, during "Miss Universe" broadcast Sunday)-"2015 is Philippines (cheers)"-Host Steve Harvey announces the correct winner of the Miss Universe pageant. COURTESY: Miss Universe Organization ((mandatory on-air credit)) (21 Dec 2015)
<<CUT *007 (12/21/15)££ 00:07 "2015 is Philippines (cheers)"
APPHOTO NVJL129: Steve Harvey holds up the card showing the winners after he incorrectly announced Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez at the winner at the Miss Universe pageant Sunday, Dec. 20, 2015, in Las Vegas. According to the pageant, a misreading led the announcer to read Miss Colombia as the winner before they took it away and gave it to Miss Philippines Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach.(AP Photo/John Locher) (20 Dec 2015)
<<APPHOTO NVJL129 (12/20/15)££
APPHOTO NVJL131: Former Miss Universe Paulina Vega, right, crowns Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez, left, at the Miss Universe pageant Sunday, Dec. 20, 2015, in Las Vegas. According to the pageant, a misreading led the announcer to read Miss Colombia as the winner before they took it away and gave it to Miss Philippines Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach.(AP Photo/John Locher) (20 Dec 2015)
<<APPHOTO NVJL131 (12/20/15)££
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