Crocodile tears? Miss Universe Thai director Nawat Itsaragrisil breaks down after publicly berating Miss Universe Mexico, faces massive online backlash

Nawat Itsaragrisil breaks down in tears: The Miss Universe 2025 pageant, known for its celebration of beauty, culture, and ambition, took an unexpected turn when Thai pageant director Nawat Itsaragrisil sparked outrage after publicly insulting Fátima Bosch, Miss Universe Mexico, during a pre-event gathering in Thailand. After the incident started getting global backlash, he apologized twice but has yet to personally apologize to Fátima Bosch, the contestant he publicly offended.

Also Read: Miss Universe Thailand Director Nawat Itsaragrisil issues apology after calling Miss Mexico ‘dumb’; who is he and his past controversies?

Nawat Itsaragrisil’s apology

Days after the incident, Thai director Nawat took the stage once again, this time not as an organizer, but as a man seeking forgiveness for the 3rd time. Holding back tears, he addressed the contestants and media during the welcome ceremony. “I want to apologize to everyone. I had no idea how big this issue would become,” he said, visibly emotional as an aide handed him a tissue.

Miss Universe Organization responds

The Miss Universe Organization (MUO) has taken decisive action following the controversy in which Thai director Nawat Itsaragrisil publicly humiliated Mexican contestant Fátima Bosch, an incident that drew widespread criticism online and support for Bosch from public figures. In response, pageant president Raúl Rocha announced sanctions against Itsaragrisil, including restricting and nearly excluding him from events at the 74th Miss Universe pageant. The decision was communicated on Tuesday through a video posted on Miss Universe’s social media platforms, where Rocha, speaking in Spanish with English subtitles, made his position clear.

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Also Read: Who is Fátima Bosch and why is the Miss Universe Mexico being called ‘dumb’ by Thai pageant director Nawat Itsaragrisil

Nawat faced huge backlash after insulting Miss Universe Mexico

Some of the people cheered as he was punished by MUO; others mentioned that he was not spared this time, referring to when he earlier body-shamed an indian model Rachel Gupta, and ‘got away’ with it.


Others also slammed his way of apologizing and termed it as crocodile tears: “This guy Nawat forced the Miss Universe participants to attend a dinner with him and promote his company, and as soon as one of them refuses, he decides to publicly humiliate and intimidate her, and now this macho man thinks we're going to believe his crocodile tears?” a user commented.

The backstory

Nawat Itsaragrisil, who serves as Vice President for Asia and Oceania for the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) and is also the director of Miss Grand International (MGI), publicly confronted Bosch during the event that led to some of the contestants walking out in solidarity with Miss Universe Mexico.

Also Read: ‘He called me dumb’: Miss Mexico Fatima Bosch walks out of Miss Universe 2025 event after clash with Thai director on camera; here’s what happened

As per multiple media reports, he questioned her absence from a sponsor shoot earlier in the day and asked her to stand and explain herself on camera. During the exchange, Nawat was heard calling her “dumb,” and after Bosch objected to his remarks, he reportedly called for “security.”

In a separate clip later posted to the Miss Universe Thailand page, Itsaragrisil appeared to invite the delegates back “except Mexico,” adding that “she’s talking too much.”