Miss Universe’s Anne Jakrajutatip says leaked video was ‘manipulated’
Anne Jakrajutatip. Image: Instagram/@annejkn.official
Miss Universe Organization (MUO) co-owner Anne Jakrajutatip claimed that the leaked video of herself making a remark about the pageant’s efforts to promote inclusivity was “manipulated” to jeopardize her reputation.
On Instagram on Tuesday, Feb. 27, the Thai business mogul addressed the video clip, wherein she was heard saying MUO’s social inclusivity pitch was a mere “communication strategy,” saying it was edited to mislead the pageant community. She did not state how the video could have been edited.
The video in question also showed her at a roundtable meeting with some of MUO’s executives, including Mexican businessman Raul Rocha Cantu.
“The malicious edited video was out of context and used to manipulate other people which led to the public confusion, misunderstanding, misinterpretation, and wrong conclusion. I hope the world would not go round by this nonsense soap opera alike.” she said on her Instagram post.
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In her post, Jakrajutatip also referred to a “man” who she said sought to ruin her and the MUO.
“I still don’t comprehend why this man, who I was so nice to, would like to jeopardize me and the organization while we were talking about one of the new reality show episodes not the pageantry itself. However, I do believe that his unlawful act wasn’t successful as we always have the strong clever fans who can distinguish what is real or not. We always have the kind supporters who genuinely love MUO brand and believe in our core value of promoting diversity,” she said.
Acknowledging that she identifies as a transwoman and mother — two of the sectors that her “inclusivity” talk had sought to attract to join the pageant — Jakrajutatip said she had always been fighting her whole life for gender equality rights.
“Why do I have to live my life up against on what I believe? God gave me the purpose to live, to inspire and to spread the kindness. I do have strength to forgive this man and show the desire to the universe that LOVE is what we need in this world,” she said, without naming the person she was referring to.
With the spread of Jakrajutatip’s video online, Miss Universe-Nepal 2023 Jane Garrett also spoke up saying she was aware from the beginning that the pageant was rigged against the “inclusion girls” — transwomen, married women, plus-sized women and even those with advanced age.
It followed a public spat with former MUO president Paula Shugart, who threatened to sue the Thai businesswoman for accusing her on social media of taking money under the table to favor certain candidates.
