Why did Omar Harfouch quit as a Miss Universe 2025 judge?

This year’s Miss Universe pageant continues to stir up controversy.

It started when Miss Universe executive Nawat Itsaragrisil lashed out at Miss Mexico Fátima Bosch during a livestreamed pre-pageant event, resulting in a public apology and Itsaragrisil’s role in the competition being restricted.

Now, a member of the Miss Universe judging panel has stepped down. On Tuesday, Nov. 18, composer Omar Harfouch announced his resignation, which comes just days before the competition begins on Friday, Nov. 21.

In a series of Instagram Stories, Harfouch attributed his departure to improper practices within the Miss Universe Organization (MUO).

Read on as we break down why Omar Harfouch quit the Miss Universe 2025 jury and how the MUO is responding to his accusations.

Why did Omar Harfouch quit the Miss Universe jury?

After quitting, Harfouch took to his Instagram to explain why fans won’t see him at the judges’ table on Friday, Nov. 21. The pianist claimed he discovered through social media that the MUO had put together an “impromptu jury” to pick 30 finalists from 136 countries in the competition before they even competed on stage.

According to Harfouch, none of the “real” eight Miss Universe judges were involved in choosing the finalists. He also claimed that those results are currently being kept under wraps.

In a follow-up post to his Instagram Stories, Harfouch alleged that the unapproved panel is made up of “individuals with a significant potential conflict of interest due to some personal relationships with some of the Miss Universe contestants, including the person responsible for counting the votes and managing the results, which constitutes a further conflict of interest.”

Harfouch said he raised his concerns with the Miss Universe committee about “this preliminary selection.” But instead of addressing them, they posted “a list of names associated with the selection” on Instagram without clarifying “the [roles] played by these [individuals].” (He appears to be referring to this post on Miss Universe’s Instagram from Monday, Nov. 17.)

In his final post, Harfouch confirmed he would not take part in the pageant. “After having a disrespectful conversation with [Miss Universe CEO] Raul Rocha about the lack of transparency in the Miss Universe voting process, l decided to resign from the jury and refuse to be part of this charade,” he said. “I will also not be playing the music composed for the event.”

Harfouch doubled down in an Instagram video, writing in the caption that he “could not stand before the public and television cameras, pretending to legitimize a vote I never took part in.”

He continued, “Some of the countries eliminated through this process could be at war, discriminated against, or geopolitically sensitive,” he continued. “Viewers would assume the jury made these decisions, and I cannot bear responsibility for a process I did not participate in. Pretending otherwise would be dishonest.”

How has the Miss Universe Organization responded?

Following Harfouch’s accusations, Rocha and the MUO released a joint statement on Instagram denying any wrongdoing. The statement claimed that the selection committee in question is for its Beyond the Crown Program, described as “an independent social impact initiative” that “operates entirely separately from the Miss Universe competition and from the official judging panel.”

The statement pushed back against the comments that Harfouch made on social media, stating that no impromptu jury was ever put together, no outside group was allowed to decide on the finalists, and all judging continues “to follow the established, transparent, and supervised MUO protocols.” 

The MUO also responded to Harfouch’s confusion and decision to resign. “Given [Mr. Harfouch’s] expressed confusion, his public mischaracterization of the program, and his stated desire not to participate, the Miss Universe Organization respectfully acknowledges his withdrawal from the official judging panel,” they wrote.

The statement also declared that Harfouch is now banned from “using, displaying, referencing, or associating himself with any Miss Universe trademarks, service marks, logos, titles, or registered properties, in any format, medium, or communication, whether digital, written, or verbal.”

The MUO concluded by urging “the public, media outlets, and fans worldwide to rely solely on verified MUO communications and to continue supporting the delegates whose leadership, service, and dedication reflect the true values of Miss Universe.”

How are the Miss Universe 2025 contestants reacting to the controversy?

Ahead of the pageant, an anonymous contestant told PEOPLE that she and several fellow contestants learned about the controversy through social media, not the MUO. 

“This revelation came moments after we stepped off stage from our final rehearsal for tomorrow’s preliminaries,” she said. “It is heartbreaking.”

The contestant continued, “So many contestants have sacrificed their personal lives, left their jobs, and spent a year preparing for this moment. Some of us have fallen ill, been hospitalized, or pushed through exhaustion while receiving only three to four hours of sleep each night. We did this because we believed in the integrity of this organization and the mission they told us they stood for.”

She also praised Harfouch for speaking out. “We thank Omar Harfouch for standing up for integrity when the organization would not. He showed the very leadership Miss Universe claims to celebrate.”

Where can I watch the Miss Universe 2025 pageant?

The Miss Universe 2025 pageant will air live on Telemundo on Thursday, Nov. 20, at 8 p.m. ET.

The broadcast will also be available to stream on Peacock and the official Miss Universe YouTube channel.

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