Pulitzer awardee Ronan Farrow says Michelle Dee was ‘robbed’ after Miss Universe exit
Stay tuned for more Miss Universe 2023 updates!
Michelle Dee (left) and Ronan Farrow (right). Image from Miss Universe YT, Farrow’s X account
Even Pulitzer award-winning investigative journalist Ronan Farrow was rooting for Michelle Dee and thought the Filipina beauty queen has been deprived of the opportunity to shine at the final round of the Miss Universe 2023 pageant.
On his X (formerly Twitter) account, Farrow — son of American actress Mia Farrow and filmmaker Woody Allen — made a brief reference to the Filipina beauty queen being left “shaking and crying.”
Screenshot of Ronan Farrow on his X account
Farrow, a lawyer, won the Pulitzer for his report on allegations of sexual abuse against filmmaker Harvey Weinstein, who would later be convicted in a Los Angeles court for several counts.
On the same thread, Farrow said that he’s happy for Miss Nicaragua, Sheynnis Palacios, who won this year’s Miss Universe crown, which is also the first for her country.
Meanwhile, Dee’s friends Rhian Ramos, Kylie Padilla, and Max Collins are among the many pageant fans who were dismayed by the beauty queen’s exit after her Top 10 finish during the Miss Universe coronation night in El Salvador last Nov. 18 (Nov. 19 in Manila). In their shared posts, the fans appeared to imply irregularity in the pageant results.
(From left) Rhian Ramos, Kylie Padilla, Max Collins. Images from their respective Instagram accounts
After the Top 10 candidates competed in the evening gown portion, reigning titleholder Sheynnis Palacios of Nicaragua, Anntonia Porsild of Thailand, Moraya Wilson of Australia, Karla Guilfu of Puerto Rico, and Camila Avella of Colombia were called to advance to the Top 5, while those whose names weren’t called, including Dee, were ushered to the backstage.
Following the series of events, a certain art card claiming that the crossover stunner was included in the Top 5 had been making rounds on social media, only for Dee’s photo to be changed with Porsild.
The screenshot was allegedly posted on Miss Universo El Salvador’s official Instagram account, but was deleted after about 10 minutes, although the handler of the account has yet to confirm nor deny the claims.
Taking to her X (formerly Twitter) page, Ramos reposted the alleged art card with the remark: “Mashaket (It hurts).”
Mashaket https://t.co/oOJDFWqpQ3
— Rhian Ramos (@whianwamos) November 19, 2023
Padilla, meanwhile, admitted that she’s being “Petty Kylie” after sharing the similar art card on her X account.
“I’ll just leave this here and I’ll pack petty kylie away after,” she wrote.
I’ll just leave this here and I’ll pack petty kylie away after. 🤔 pic.twitter.com/E77iEJQBQt
— k y l i e ☽◯☾ (@kylienicolep) November 19, 2023
On the other hand, Collins shared screenshots from the Facebook group “Bekis of Pageantry” which includes posts claiming that Dee was removed from the Top 5 on purpose.
Image: Screengrab from Instagram/@maxcollinsofficial
Image: Screengrab from Instagram/@maxcollinsofficial
‘Robbed’
Many netizens agreed that Dee was “robbed” of a chance to win the Miss Universe crown after she was excluded from the Top 5.
Michelle Dee WAS ROBBED WITH TOP 5
Michelle Dee WAS ROBBED WITH TOP 5
Michelle Dee WAS ROBBED WITH TOP 5
Michelle Dee WAS ROBBED WITH TOP 5#MichelleDee #MissUniverse2023pic.twitter.com/RrDboyqwRi— Zaksumoto (@zaksumotwo) November 19, 2023
WAIT??? ARE WE ON THE SAME PAGE???? THAT GOWN IS THE BEST AMONG ALL OF THEM. WHAT HAPPENED??? They are really afraid that the Philippines might devour the mic when she enters the Top 5 so they had to get rid of her. ROBBED!!!! #MissUniverse2023 pic.twitter.com/WSbcboMEVK
— paige (@slayingduchess) November 19, 2023
Lol these questions are so simple and answers are so underwhelming. They know MMD would slay so they robbed her of Top 5. #MissUniverse2023 #MichelleDee pic.twitter.com/BeiUiTfnI6
— kris ♡｡˚ ia (@yunalesmis) November 19, 2023
Other fans also noted that if the beauty queen was given a chance to enter the question-and-answer portion, she would’ve stood out among her fellow candidates — considering her awards from the pageant as well.
they didn’t include her to the top 5 because they know for sure that she’s gonna ace that q&a portion and will end everyone in the competition. MY GIRL DEFINITELY STOOD OUT WITH HER BLACK GOWN DURING THE EVENING GOWN. SHE WAS ROBBED! #MissUniverse2023 pic.twitter.com/5L967v6D03
— elle head hanner (@hannieflrtz) November 19, 2023
This doesn’t makes sense at all! 😭 She WON all awards! And gave that powerful performance during evening gown, and that “GOWN”?? Still not deserving to be part of the top 5? What’s wrong with those peeps? Like what else do you need? #MichelleDee #Deepatapos #MissUniverse2023 pic.twitter.com/As8Sl7GCdn
— Gie Rivera Ancheta (@SuperGie07) November 19, 2023
Hakot award pero wala sa Top 5? Mygad the audacity! MMD was clearly robbed! #MichelleDee #MissUniverse2023 pic.twitter.com/p6dFMnLl2J
— 🧚♀️ (@sesskaguu) November 19, 2023
One @tzujuliee and a fan account going by the username @PiaWurtzbachUni also questioned the results of the global tilt on X, while sharing the art card that Miss Universo El Salvador allegedly posted on social media.
A mix-up from MU in El Salvador IG page was posted seeing MMD in the Top 5 instead of Thailand. This was deleted now and replaced with a new one.
What is this behaviorrr??? 🤔#MissUniverse2023 #MichelleDee #Philippines #ForDEEUniverse #MissUniverse #Filipinas #DEE5TINY pic.twitter.com/vjMWP7S3I9
— Pia Wurtzbach Universe (@PiaWurtzbachUni) November 19, 2023
A mix-up from MU in El Salvador IG page was posted seeing MMD in the Top 5 instead of Thailand. This was deleted now and replaced with a new one.
What is this behaviorrr??? 🤔#MissUniverse2023 #MichelleDee #Philippines #ForDEEUniverse #MissUniverse #Filipinas #DEE5TINY pic.twitter.com/vjMWP7S3I9
— Pia Wurtzbach Universe (@PiaWurtzbachUni) November 19, 2023
Another @wildcatmorana suspected that the pageant’s camera man appeared to be “confused” that Dee wasn’t included in the Top 5, while noting that he was supposedly zooming in on the Filipina delegate.
even the cameraman knew michelle dee was 4th to be called on the top 5. he was confusIOONNN when thailand was called instead 😭 LMAOOO the cooking show #MichelleDee#MissUniverse2023pic.twitter.com/Dr0ok1K4on
— Io✨ (@wildcatmorana) November 19, 2023
The Miss Universe Organization (MUO) has yet to issue a statement addressing the allegations, as of this writing.
