Social media caught ablaze after Miss Universe pageant host, US comedian Steve Harvey misread his cue card late Sunday and announced that Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez was Miss Universe. No sooner was she crowned before the glittering crown was taken off her head and given to its rightful owner Miss Philippines.

Just as Gutierrez half-sobbed, half-laughed and accepted the crown and bouquet that Harvey came clean on his blunder. “OK folks, I have to apologize,” he said. “The first runner up is Columbia.”  The music then picked up again as he said that “Miss Universe 2015 is Philippines”.

The actual winner, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, stood there stunned.

The audience greeted the news with cheers and boos.

The glittering crown was then promptly placed on Wurtzbach’s head. She later told reporters she wished the best to the crestfallen Miss Colombia.

On Twitter, Harvey later tweeted:

“I’d like to apologize wholeheartedly to Miss Colombia & Miss Philippines for my huge mistake. I feel terrible.” The message was retweeted more than 85,000 times.