A double walkout that stunned the pageant world
Miss Universe 2025 has been hit by fresh turbulence just days before the November 21 finale in Bangkok, after two of its official judges abruptly quit. Lebanese French musician Omar Harfouch announced his resignation on Instagram, claiming he had uncovered what he called an 'impromptu jury' pre-selecting the Top 30 finalists without any involvement from the eight official judges. Harfouch wrote that he learned of the secret selection via social media and said the group was made up of 'individuals with a significant potential conflict of interest due to some personal relationships with some of the Miss Universe contestants'.
Harfouch added that when he raised his concerns with the Miss Universe leadership, he was brushed off. He said that after a 'disrespectful conversation' with Miss Universe CEO Raul Rocha about the 'lack of transparency in the Miss Universe voting process', he chose to step down and would 'not be part of this charade'. He also noted that he would no longer play the original music he had composed for the event.
What the judges say happened behind the scenes
The controversy escalated quickly. Harfouch alleged that the mysterious early selection included someone 'responsible for counting the votes and managing the results', suggesting another conflict of interest inside a process that is supposed to be tightly supervised. He claimed that countries removed in this unofficial round 'could be at war, discriminated against, or geopolitically sensitive', raising the stakes on what he calls a fundamental breach of fairness.
Hours after Harfouch’s resignation, French football legend Claude Makelele also pulled out. Makelele attributed his exit to 'unforeseen personal reasons', though his decision arrived so closely on the heels of the allegations that it further intensified speculation.
The organisation pushes back
The Miss Universe Organisation (MUO) strongly denied Harfouch’s claims. In its statement, MUO said 'no impromptu jury has been created' and insisted that 'no external group has been authorised to evaluate delegates or select finalists'. According to MUO, Harfouch misunderstood the Beyond the Crown programme, a separate social impact initiative with its own committee that does not influence competition results. The organisation said Harfouch had publicly mischaracterised the programme and noted that given his expressed confusion and stated desire not to participate, it accepted his withdrawal.
How the controversy escalated in Thailand
This is not the first flashpoint for this year’s edition. Just two weeks ago, multiple contestants walked out of a pre-pageant event after Thailand’s national director, Nawat Itsaragrisil, publicly berated Miss Mexico for not posting promotional content. Video of the moment went viral and forced MUO to send a team of international executives to Bangkok to take over operations. Harfouch’s allegations have now widened the spotlight on the behind-the-scenes tensions at a pageant that Thailand has been eager to present on a global stage.
Why these resignations matter
The Miss Universe brand depends heavily on its claims of fairness, transparency and equal competition. With delegates arriving from 136 countries, even the perception of pre-selection cuts against the promise of a level playing field. A double walkout from the judging panel days before the finale only intensifies the scrutiny. Observers are now watching how MUO responds, especially amid reports of a third dropout from the selection committee.
The show goes on: Miss Universe hits the Bangkok stage on November 21
Despite the drama, the pageant is moving ahead. Miss Universe 2025 will take place on November 21 at Impact Arena in Bangkok. MUO says the competition will follow its official judging protocols and that all finalists will be evaluated under standard Miss Universe criteria. As Bangkok prepares for the crowning moment, all eyes will remain firmly on what happens both onstage and off.