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Niecy Nash supports Steve Harvey after Miss Universe blunder
Published April 04, 2016
(2015 Getty Images)
Actress Niecy Nash had a front-row view of Steve Harvey's Miss Universe blunder on Sunday while sitting at the pageant judges' table, where the vibe was "intense."
Speaking exclusively with ET's Nichelle Turner backstage after the pageant, Nash opened up about what was going through the minds of the pageant judges during the confusion.
"I mean, we were all shocked," Nash said of her fellow judges -- Blogger Perez Hilton, former Miss USA Olivia Culpo and former NFL star Emmitt Smith -- when Harvey accidentally named the wrong contestant as the winner.
WATCH: Steve Harvey Names Wrong Miss Universe Contestant as the Winner in Embarrassing 'Mistake'
During the grand finale, Harvey announced Miss Colombia as the new Miss Universe, when the title was actually meant for Miss Philippines. After an awkward moment, Harvey admitted that he had misread the card, and apologized.
In one of the most awkward moments in the history of live TV, Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez was de-crowned, and the regalia was bestowed upon a very shocked and confused Miss Philippines Pia Wurtzbach.
Despite the embarrassing mix-up, Nash applauded Harvey for handing the situation responsibly and being upfront about his mistake.
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WATCH: Miss Colombia's Response to Awkward Miss Universe Mistake Is Perfect and Gracious
"A lesser person would have let the mistake slide and then dealt with it on the back end," Nash said. "I think he was a great host and I think that mistakes happen."
Nash revealed that, while she obviously sympathized with Gutierrez, she also felt bad for Wurtzbach.
"It was hard because when all the girls came down at the end they didn't congratulate the real winner, which was Miss Philippines. Most of them went over to Miss Colombia because they knew her heart was breaking," Nash explained, adding that the mix-up and aftermath made Wurtzbach's win "bittersweet."
WATCH: Miss Universe 2015: Behind-the-Scenes of the Pageant's Super Awkward Finale
The new Miss Universe also exclusively opened up to ET about winning the title, where she revealed that, when she was named the real winner, she wasn't sure if it was another mistake and was afraid to take center stage. Check out the ET exclusive interview below to hear about Wurtzbach's strange, exciting night.
https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/niecy-nash-supports-steve-harvey-after-miss-universe-blunder