Steve Harvey has faced criticism for making Miss Universe winner Harnaaz Sandhu 'meow' on stage. Watch below:
When addressing the 21-year-old from Chandigarh, India, at the 70th Miss Universe competition in Eilat, Israel, Harvey said: "I hear you do some pretty good animal impersonations.
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"Let's hear your best one."
A visibly shocked Sandhu replied: "Oh my god, Steve, I was not expecting to do this on the world stage.
"I have to do this, I have no other option.”
As she prepared to brace herself for what was to come, she belted out a couple of high pitched 'meows'.
Social media were just as stunned as the live audience was and were pretty confused by Harvey's bizarre request.
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"Meowing like a cat during international competition was mighty strange," one wrote.
Another tweeted: "OMG Miss India meowing at Steve Harvey is not what I was expecting to see tonight.
"Pretty sure the Miss Universe organisation could have asked a better question… very frustrating but she was nothing if not confident."
"You’re kidding right?" a third added.
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Someone else wrote: "Da fuqq wrong with Steve Harvey, yall?!?!?!! I think it's his time to retire. NOW. This was completely inappropriate."
However, another user admired her bottle and commented: "Put on the spot, she could've declined or gone for it with good humor.
"She chose the latter, and it was the right choice."
Sandhu, an advocate for women’s rights and empowerment in India, went on to be crowned Miss Universe 2021.
She works with her mother, who is a gynaecologist, to spread awareness about women’s hygiene at health camps.
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She has starred in Punjabi-language films and is currently enrolled for a Masters degree in public administration.
Host Steve Harvey was also criticised for a 2015 edition of the competition where he famously crowned the first runner-up Miss Colombia the winner, instead of Miss Philippines.
Another user Tweeted: “Is it just me or is Steve Harvey continually inappropriate and continues to make embarrassing gaffes.
"Asking Miss India to make cat sounds, then (again) mixing up country names - this time calling Miss Paraguay, Miss Portugal.
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"I think he should move on.”
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: World News