Miss Universe judge resigns days before event, alleging that finalists were preselected.

In a significant development just days before the much-anticipated Miss Universe pageant, Lebanese-French musician Omar Harfouch has announced his resignation as a judge for the event. This unexpected decision has surfaced amid growing concerns about the transparency of the competition’s selection process.

Harfouch took to social media on Tuesday to share his reasons for stepping down, expressing his “deep confusion and concern” after discovering that an alleged “impromptu jury” had been formed. This jury purportedly selected the top 30 finalists in advance, a process that reportedly occurred without the involvement of the official judging panel. Harfouch claimed that the results of this selection were being withheld from the actual judges, raising questions about the integrity of the competition.

The musician further alleged that the secret selection committee included individuals with personal connections to certain contestants, including those responsible for tabulating votes and managing results. He asserted that this situation presented a significant conflict of interest, ultimately leading him to withdraw from participating in the event. In his posts, Harfouch revealed that his decision was influenced by a disrespectful conversation with Miss Universe CEO Raul Rocha regarding the lack of transparency within the selection process. Consequently, he announced that he would also refrain from performing the music he composed for the event.

In response to Harfouch’s accusations, the Miss Universe Organization released a statement aimed at addressing what they termed “certain inaccuracies” about the judging and selection processes for the 74th Miss Universe competition. The organization firmly denied the existence of any unauthorized jury or external group responsible for evaluating delegates or selecting finalists. They emphasized that all evaluations align with established protocols, conducted in a transparent manner.

Following the public dispute, Harfouch’s resignation was accepted, and he was informed that he could not associate himself with the Miss Universe brand or its promotional materials in any capacity. The organization’s statement sought to reaffirm the integrity of the pageant process amid these allegations.

The controversy surrounding the selection procedures has sparked concern among contestants, some of whom have expressed their dismay upon learning via social media that the preliminary selection for the top 30 finalists occurred without official judges present. This revelation, noted by an anonymous contestant, indicated that many among the questionable selections may have personal ties to the organization, leading to feelings of heartbreak and betrayal among the participants.

This incident follows other tensions earlier in the competition, when several contestants staged a walkout after a confrontation with pageant executive Nawat Itsaragrisil, further emphasizing the escalating turmoil surrounding this year’s event. The Miss Universe pageant is still set to be broadcast live from Thailand on Friday, despite the surrounding controversies.

As the situation develops, it remains to be seen how these allegations will impact the final proceedings and audience perceptions of the time-honored competition.