The Miss Universe 2025 pageant set for Bangkok on November 21, has landed itself in new problems. Soon after musician and judge Omar Harfouch left the judging panel, another jury member has quit raising more questions about the contest's inner workings and transparency.
French football player Claude Makélélé announced that he was stepping down on November 18 in a short Instagram post. He wrote that he wouldn't be at the event because of "unforeseen personal reasons." He did not give a specific reason in his public statement, and expressed deep regret.
In the social media post, Makélélé wrote,“It is with regret that I must announce that I won’t be able to attend the Miss Universe 2025 event due to unforeseen personal reasons. This was a difficult decision, as I hold Miss Universe in the highest regard. The platform represents empowerment, diversity, and excellence — values I have always championed throughout my career. I sincerely apologise to the organisation, the contestants, and everyone involved, and I hope to be able to contribute in the future under better circumstances. Thank you for your understanding and support.”
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His withdrawal marks the second high-profile departure from the judging panel in a matter of days.
Miss Universe 2025 Controversy
Makélélé’s resignation follows that of Omar Harfouch, who was scheduled to serve as both a judge and a performer. Harfouch stepped down earlier this week, hinting at “ethical concerns” regarding how the Top 30 contestants were chosen.
In his post, Omar said that instead of the chosen panel, a "behind-the-scenes group" with personal links to some contestants made big choices in private. He said this group worked outside the official judging setup making people wonder if the finalist selection was fair and open.
While he didn't accuse the organization of wrongdoing, Harfouch hinted that a talk with top brass made him feel "disrespected," which in the end led him to step down from both positions.
Miss Universe Organization Clears the Air
In reply, the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) rejected claims of any wrongdoing. The group said Harfouch's claims came from a mix-up and stressed that all assessments followed official steps to the letter.
MUO reiterated that no external or informal committee influenced the results and emphasized its commitment to a fair, structured judging process led by a diverse panel and clearly defined criteria.
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