Entertainment
Steve Harvey slammed for asking Miss India for animal impression
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video
Steve Harvey has landed in hot water yet again amid his hosting duties for the Miss Universe pageant.
No, he didn’t crown the wrong winner (again) – instead, he asked one competitor to *checks notes* make an animal sound?
Whatever you think of these pageant shows, it’s safe to say the people are not best pleased other contestants vying for the extravagantly-large crown were asked about their accomplishments while Miss India was left meowing like a cat.
Speaking with Miss India Harnaaz Sandhu front of stage over the weekend, Harvey took the competitor by surprise when he asked: ‘I hear you do some pretty good animal impersonations. Let’s hear your best one.’
Sandhu replied: ‘Oh my god, Steve, I was not expecting to do this on the world stage.’
You and us both.
She still took the title (Picture: AFP)
Still, she took it all in her stride and, in the spirit of the pageant, said: ‘I have to do this, I have no other option.’
After explaining that she loved cats and does a pretty nifty impersonation of one, Sandhu told the audience to ‘brace’ themselves, before sharing some (rather impressive, if we do say so ourselves) meows right into Harvey’s microphone.
Sure it was an entertaining moment, but viewers were a little sour that other contestants had been asked about their stellar accomplishments and not to make an animal noise.
In comparison, Miss Panama Brenda Smith spoke about her position at the UN, while Miss Great Britain Emma Collingridge discussed a dissertation on mythological character Medusa’s origin story and how it inspired her to fight against gender-based violence.
The thing is, it clearly made no difference as in the end Sandhu was crowned Miss Universe, after using the platform to speak on climate change (when she wasn’t being asked to meow).
That didn’t stop pundits online from criticising the questioning, however, with many wondering what Harvey was playing at.
Sarakshi Rai wrote on Twitter: ‘OMG Miss India meowing at Steve Harvey is not what I was expecting to see tonight. Pretty sure the Miss Universe organization could have asked a better question… very frustrating but she was nothing if not confident. [sic].’
Another fumed: ‘Ridiculous that #HarnaazSandhu was asked to meow on stage but boy that girl was on confidence adrenaline… !!’
‘Why the f**k ya made miss India meow like a cat in front of everyone but gave all the other contestants solid questions?’ one Twitter-user wrote after the moment.
More: Miss Universe
Others were mighty impressed she took the title after the meowing moment, as one reacted: ‘Even after they made her meow on live television she still won. Congrats Miss India.’
At the event on Sunday night in Eliat, Israel, Miss Paraguay Nadia Ferreira was named runner-up, followed by Miss South Africa Lalela Mswane.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
