Miss Universe, the conspiracy theories

It was left to former Miss Universe Paulina Vega (centre) to take the winner's flowers, sash and crown from Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez (left) and give them to Miss Philippines Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach (right). Picture / AP

This week’s mix-up was embarrassing but, Emily Yahr writes, many believe it was all a publicity stunt.

Steve Harvey mixing up the winner of the 2015 Miss Universe pageant this week had all the ingredients of an epic viral moment: A beauty pageant. An embarrassing gaffe. The agonising scene when Harvey admitted he made a mistake. The look on Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez's face when her crown was taken off and given to the real winner, Miss Philippines Pia Wurtzbach.

It was so perfect. Maybe ... a little too perfect.

Immediately after Harvey announced Miss Colombia as the winner (she was actually the first runner-up), the video made its way around the world and #MissUniverse2015 was the No1 trending topic on Twitter. But social media lit up with the internet's second-favourite thing: Cries of a conspiracy theory.

Sample comment on Facebook from Raoul Martinez, a TV anchor in San Diego: "You guys buying this? I'm no conspiracy theorist, but this smells fishy to me. Sounds like a big PUBLICITY STUNT to get everyone talking about Miss Universe, when normally (let's be honest, now!) NO ONE would be talking about Miss Universe."

Then there were screenshots of the card Harvey was holding on TV, which he held up to prove he read the wrong name. People were dubious he could have really mixed up the two names.

Here are some of the other reasons some think it was planned all along.

1. Did the teleprompter say Miss Colombia?

Harvey took full responsibility for the mix-up on stage, apologising to the audience. But according to the Miss Universe's Snapchat, as Harvey left the stage, he said the teleprompter read "Miss Universe - Colombia". Though that snap is now nowhere to be found, several (including USA Today) have screengrabs. However, later in the Snapchat story, Harvey is seen talking to the press and takes the blame again: He says he should have said "runner-up" instead of "winner" when making the announcement.

2. A ploy for attention for Miss Universe

The Miss Universe pageant is hardly a ratings magnet - last year it garnered about 7.6 million viewers, its highest ratings in a decade, and the event is fairly under the radar in the United States. Plus, a Sunday night in December (five days before Christmas, no less) is hardly an ideal time to air any programme aside from American football. The pageant, airing on Fox for the first time, had to make a splash. And it did. A big one.

3. A plot for attention for Steve Harvey

Hmmm, what do you think comedian Harvey will discuss on his syndicated talk show? And do you think that talk show might also remind people that he also hosts Family Feud?

4. Something involving Donald Trump

It's no secret the Miss Universe franchise has faced drama this year, when GOP presidential contender Donald Trump sold the pageant to WME/IMG. The pageant's former home, NBC, cut all ties with Trump after his incendiary comments about immigrants, which also resulted in Univision dropping the pageant. But some were convinced that Trump (even if he no longer owns the pageant) was still involved, somehow.

5. To cement a place in Miss Universe history

Remember when Marisa Tomei won the best supporting actress Oscar for My Cousin Vinny and people still talk about how maybe the presenter read the wrong name off the teleprompter? Miss Universe just had its Marisa Tomei moment.

- Bloomberg