Missed congeniality: Beauty pageant organiser accused of calling contestant a 'dumbhead'

The organiser of Miss Universe has told Sky News helium cannot basal down from his presumption - contempt allegations helium was assertive towards a contestant.

In a video that's present gone viral, Nawat Itsaragrisil appeared to reprimand Miss Mexico aft she had failed to station promotional contented astir Thailand - this year's big state - online.

Reporters astatine the lawsuit claimed helium had called Fatima Bosch a "dumbhead" - thing helium has firmly denied.

After the verbal altercation, she replied: "You are not respecting maine arsenic a woman."

Nawat past called for information and Bosch walked retired of the room. She was joined by different contestants successful a amusement of solidarity, including the reigning Miss Universe.

The pageant's president, Mexican businessman Raul Rocha, has described his behaviour arsenic "public aggression" and "serious abuse".

At a quality conference, Nawat insisted helium had utilized the connection "damage" alternatively than "dumbhead" - and urged reporters to cheque footage of the incidental online.

However, helium added: "This contented has dragged maine down to this point. I recognize and I apologise."

When pressed further by journalists, Nawat appeared to commencement sobbing and said: "I americium a quality who tin consciousness hurt."

He has besides apologised to contestants, adding: "If anyone (was) affected and not comfortable, it happened, I americium truthful sorry. It's passed. Okay? Are you happy?"

The contention has overshadowed the Miss Universe contest, with respective events to spell until the expansive last connected 21 November.