MANILA, Philippines — And the backlash begins.
Netizens were abuzz over the statement of Miss Universe Germany Sarah-Lorraine Riek against the Philippines's Pia Wurtzbach hours after the coronation night of the 64th Miss Universe pageant on Sunday (Monday morning, Philippine time).
READ: Outraged Colombians look for blame in Miss Universe mix-up
This is after Miss Universe show host Steve Harvey mistakenly read Miss Colombia's Ariadna Gutierrez as the new Miss Universe instead of Wurtzbach.
Pageant blog Missosology posted on its social media page a video of an interview with Miss Germany.
The German beauty queen said she is "upset" with the turn of events.
"I really couldn't believe it. I was so upset. Because for me, she was robbed."
She added, "I was very happy for Colombia, actually. She really deserved it. But I'm very unhappy with the result and so were the other girls, I'm very sorry to say it."
READ: Miss Universe apologizes to Miss Colombia, Pia Wurtzbach
Riek went on to say: "No one of us voted for Philippines. I’m so sorry to say that."
The video became viral; Pinoy pageant enthusiasts and fans of the newly-crowned Miss Universe Wurtzbach are not very happy with Miss Germany.
The hashtag "Dear Miss Germany" became a hot topic on Twitter in the country, with Filipino netizens expressing their dismay over Riek's statements.
"Dear Miss Germany and the other girls who ignored Pia you have just proven that not all beauty queens deserve to be respected!" one Twitter user wrote.
"Dear Miss Germany, you should have blamed the confusion to the mistake made by the host," said another.
READ: Pia Wurtzbach felt joy, concern over Miss Universe win
Others even took note of Riek's performance in the 64th Miss Universe pageant. The 23-year-old Riek from Munich failed to enter the contest's top 15.
Wurtzbach, in interviews after the pageant, said she felt concern for Gutierrez after the mix-up. — Chuck Smith