Miss Universe Thailand Director Claims He Said “Damage” Not “Dumb Head” During Pre-Pageant Sash Ceremony
Thai pageant director Nawat Itsaragrisil explains his side of the sash ceremony incident amid the backlash.
Miss Universe Thailand director Nawat Itsaragrisil has come out to address the recent controversy surrounding this year's pageant.
The 60-year-old media personality was seen reprimanding the Miss Universe 2025 contestants during the pre-pageant sash ceremony, which was live-streamed on Nov 4. He singled out Miss Universe Mexico, Fatima Bosch, and was heard calling her "dumb head".
He now claims he didn't use the word "dumb head" in the viral video, and was instead saying "damage".
"I didn't say 'dumb head' even one second. I said 'damage'. If she believed and listened to [her] national director, it's 'damage'," he emphasised in a latest press conference.
The confrontation happened as Nawat was seemingly upset that Fatima had followed her country director's advice not to promote Thailand, the pageant's host country.
He was heard saying: "If you follow the order from your national director, you're a dumb head."
As he went on to admonish the other ladies, Fatima stood up to call him out for his behaviour before proceeding to exit the room.
Nawat called for the security team, and the entire exchange prompted other pageant contestants, including Miss Universe Canada and Miss Universe Palestine to walk out of the room as well.
Fatima later told the press: "You know that as a country you have all my respect. But what your director just did, it's not respectful. He called me dumb because he had problems with the organisation."
She added: "I'm trying to give my best and he just shot me. He said to me 'shut up' and a lot of different things. And I think the world needs to see this because we are empowered women and this is a platform for our voice. No one can shut our voice and no one will do that to me."
The president of Miss Universe Organisation Raul Rocha condemned Nawat's behaviour, and subsequently, announced that he would restrict Nawat's participation in events related to the competition.
Prior to the press conference where he claimed he was misheard, Nawat attended the pageant's welcoming ceremony on Wednesday night, where he bowed in apology to the Miss Universe contestants.
He said: "You must understand that the pressure is a lot. I am human. Sometimes, I cannot control. By the way, I do not intend to harm anyone because I respect all of you [and] I have to say I am so sorry it's happened."
Just this morning (Nov 6), Nawat made a post on Instagram, seemingly implying the controversy, writing: "Freedom of speech (voice) is important, but if the voices are lies it would not be called freedom of speech (voice)."
