Steve Harvey Sobs, Asks Forgiveness For Miss Universe Mix-Up [Video]

One month after Steve Harvey’s epic botch at the 2015 Miss Universe pageant, the television host is still seeking forgiveness for the gaffe. In fact, he has recently appealed directly to the women involved in the debacle, meeting face to face with Miss Universe and the pageant’s runner up, Miss Columbia, in a special two-part episode of his own daytime talk show in hopes that everyone involved can finally put the whole situation to rest.

As previously reported by The Inquisitr and other news outlets, Steve Harvey inaccurately announced Miss Colombia as the winner of the 2015 Miss Universe pageant back on December 20 as the popular celebrity was rounding out his hosting duties for the event. He interrupted the coronation to explain his mistake, advising that it was actually Miss Philippines who won top honors. Harvey said he was confused about the way the names were laid out on the card that he was given to read for the final segment.

According to The Grio, Steve Harvey has already taped his sit-down chat with both ladies. Clips of those episodes of The Steve Harvey Show have already been released to promote the episodes, which will air later this week.

Harvey was particularly emotional in discussing the affect of his mix-up on his family, as noted by Radar Online. He discussed the public’s reaction to the incident, noting that some lashed out at him while others directed anger towards his family.

“I couldn’t even sleep. Death threats against my family… I can’t let my kids go nowhere.”

He described his wife as a source of strength throughout the controversy.

“She got up with me [during the night]. She was the best,” Steve Harvey said, as he began to cry. “You gotta have someone with you. Somebody to climb down in that hole with you.”

For her part, Miss Universe — Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach of the Philippines — expressed sympathy for Steve Harvey during her appearance on The Steve Harvey Show.

“Don’t beat yourself up for this anymore. Let’s move forward, let’s just be happy,” she tells Harvey in the segment.

Despite Steve Harvey’s lingering existential crisis, the celebrity had a little bit of fun with this situation in a tweet on Christmas Day in which he wished his followers a “Merry Easter.”

Merry Easter y’all!???????????? pic.twitter.com/Z6Xjj5Ehqg

— Steve Harvey (@IAmSteveHarvey) December 25, 2015

Harvey also used footage from the Miss Universe show to tell fans that they were celebrating his birthday on the wrong date.

I want to thank EVERYONE for the birthday wishes but I have an announcement to make. My birthday is January 17th. pic.twitter.com/MOzvvIVHZU

— Steve Harvey (@IAmSteveHarvey) January 15, 2016

The foul-up was apparently not enough to permanently sink Steve Harvey’s relationship with the Miss Universe pageant. Shortly after the broadcast, Mark Shapiro, an executive involved in the production of that event told Jim Rome that Harvey was welcome to host the show next year.

“[Steve] did a great job,” Shapiro maintains. “He was funny, he was informative, he’s high energy, he’s got a great following… I definitely want him back, and I would hate to see him not come back. He’s going to want a shot to redeem himself.”

Indeed, Steve Harvey reportedly signed a multi-year contract just days before the December 20, 2015 show according to an Entertainment Tonight item re-published by a Fox affiliate. A source close to the situation advised that the contract was the most money ever offered to a Miss Universe host.

It’s entirely possible that Steve Harvey’s chat with the women of the Miss Universe fiasco could be an integral part of his preparation for next year’s show.

“No matter how tough it was for me, I can’t imagine how it was for these two women. This finally gives me a chance to have a moment of closure,” Steve Harvey told his audience in a clip from the forthcoming episode of his television show.

[Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images]