During a two-day special on his talk show, Steve Harvey came face-to-face with Miss Universe Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach and runner-up Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutiérrez to clear the air with both contestants and clarify what really happened the night of the pageant.
When sitting down with Gutiérrez, 22, for Part II of the Miss Universe: The Truth special, airing Tuesday, Harvey, 58, asks for her honest feedback on his hosting skills.
“You have to learn how to read cards, because it was on the card!” she said, adding, “You wanted me to win.”
Harvey goes along with her theory, joking, “Yeah, that’s it! I wanted you to win. I’m off the hook now, that’s it. I can leave it at that.”
In Part I of the special, which aired Monday, Harvey denied that his gaffe was a publicity stunt, and revealed that his family received death threats after he mistakenly announced Miss Colombia instead of Miss Philippines as the winner of the crown.
“Like I’m going to do that to myself,” Harvey said. “My family got death threats, I have people camped outside my house,” he said, later adding, “My kids can’t go anywhere.”
The comedian expressed his remorse for his mistake, and said it greatly affected him.
“I’ve had many sleepless nights,” he said. “My deeper concern was for the two women.”
As for allegations that he missed rehearsals or was intoxicated while hosting, Harvey vehemently denied both.
“I was at every single rehearsal,” he said.
Wurtzbach, 26, confirmed that Harvey didn’t miss rehearsals, and says she has moved on from the incident.
“I don’t know where the rumor came from, but I can tell you that he was there for everything,” she said on the show. “Steve, don’t beat yourself up anymore, let’s move forward.”
Harvey infamously announced Miss Colombia as the winner of the 2015 Miss Universe pageant, when it was actually Miss Philippines who had won the crown. He has since issued multiple apologies.
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Donald Trump Is TIME's 2024 Person of the Year
- Why We Chose Trump as Person of the Year
- Is Intermittent Fasting Good or Bad for You?
- The 100 Must-Read Books of 2024
- The 20 Best Christmas TV Episodes
- Column: If Optimism Feels Ridiculous Now, Try Hope
- The Future of Climate Action Is Trade Policy
- Merle Bombardieri Is Helping People Make the Baby Decision
Contact us at letters@time.com