Miss Universe Organization (MUO) president Raul Rocha accused an ‘opportunist’ musician of ‘[latching] onto the fame of Miss Universe to gain followers,’ saying they would take legal action over the matter.
Rocha spoke up through a three-part post on his Instagram page Monday, Nov. 24. While he did not state any names, it can be noted that French-Lebanese musician Omar Harfouch – who said he resigned as a judge of the tilt – earlier alleged that Miss Universe 2025 titleholder Fatima Bosch was a ‘fake winner’ as the results of the pageant had been predetermined.
In the first part of his statement, Rocha underscored that aside from the delegates’ performances during the coronation night, there were also pre-pageant factors that were considered in choosing the Miss Universe 2025 winner.
‘Living together for 20 days, 24 hours a day, inevitably leads to countless situations in which discipline, responsibility, professionalism, sisterhood, a spirit of service, and many other values must prevail, especially loyalty toward all other competitors,’ he said. ‘These, among other factors, are what the discipline committee takes into account, along with a private interview and later the judging panel’s evaluations.’
Rocha noted that it is ‘impossible’ to determine the winner by only observing a three-hour show.
‘Three hours onstage do not reflect all the qualities that, from my perspective with clear objectivity, the woman who represents us before the world must possess,’ he added.
‘Opportunist’
The second part of Rocha’s statement then apparently addressed Harfouch’s claims, with a clarification that ‘no judge resigned.’
‘The only truth that stands is that no judge resigned. The musician, whom nobody knew, turned out to be an opportunist, and anyone with good judgment can see how an unknown person tried to latch onto the fame of Miss Universe to gain followers,’ Rocha wrote.
Rocha said he feels pity for that musician whom, he said, he trusted and was supposed to help in the latter’s ‘concert for peace.’
‘I hope the truth about who he really is and about his story comes to light soon, that justice is served, and we will also take legal action,’ he continued.
‘I encourage everyone to remove him from their social media and show the world that opportunists who exploit others have no place here, especially those who fabricate AI images that damage others’ reputations just to benefit themselves and feed their ego and insecurity,’ Rocha added, apparently referring to the alleged photo of him and Bosch in an embrace that was released by Harfouch.
Rocha further noted that ‘the other two judges’ – apparently referring to Princess Camilla di Borbone delle Due Sicilie and French football player Claude Makelele – did not resign. Rocha, however, said he opted not to expound out of respect for the two.
‘The entire circus surrounding their supposed resignation was created falsely, once again, by the pseudo-musician for his own benefit, knowing that with his poor and limited career, he would not receive media attention otherwise,’ Rocha stated.
‘I demanded that he stop involving third parties who have never claimed to have resigned because that is not the case, and the particular circumstances of each situation have nothing to do with this unfortunate musician’s intentions,’ he added.
‘Not a public institution’
‘Lastly, I want to highlight that Miss Universe is a 100% private organization. It is not a public institution,’ Rocha continued on the third part of his statement.
‘We do not receive public funds or sponsorships from any public entity. Judges do not receive any payment for participating, and Miss Universe Organization covers all expenses incurred by those who honor us with their presence,’ he said.
Rocha added that the contestants’ logistics, top-tier hotels, food and beverages, transportation, activities in different cities, and medical care are ‘completely free for all participants.’
‘Nothing and no one will stop the global phenomenon that is Miss Universe, a phenomenon heard and felt around the world,’ the MUO executive declared. ‘The results speak for themselves, and we are only a few days in. We will break every record.’
‘And to those who criticized and judged us, I want to cite the Bible: Luke 14:11 – ‘For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted,” he concluded.