Nawat Itsaragrisil, a leading organiser in the Miss Universe pageant, is facing mounting criticism after a video showing him reprimanding Miss Mexico went viral. The footage appears to capture Nawat scolding contestant Fatima Bosch for not posting promotional content about Thailand, this year’s host nation.

Some reporters at the event alleged that Nawat called Bosch a “dumbhead,” a claim he has strongly denied. Bosch responded by telling him, “You are not respecting me as a woman,” before leaving the room. She was soon joined by several other contestants, including the reigning Miss Universe, in a show of solidarity.

Raul Rocha, the pageant’s president and a prominent Mexican businessman, condemned Nawat’s behaviour as “public aggression” and “serious abuse.”

At a news conference addressing the controversy, Nawat insisted he had said “damage,” not “dumbhead,” urging journalists to review the video themselves. He apologised for the incident, saying the backlash had “dragged [him] down,” and became emotional as he told reporters, “I am a human who can feel hurt.”

He also issued an apology to all contestants, adding: “If anyone was affected and not comfortable, it happened, I am so sorry. It’s passed. Okay? Are you happy?”

The incident has cast a shadow over this year’s competition, with several events still to go before the grand final on 21 November.