A Miss Universe event has got off to a rocky start in Thailand as several contestants walked out of a pre-pageant ceremony after an official from the host nation publicly berated another competitor. Miss Universe Thailand director Nawat Itsaragrisil told off Miss Mexico, Fatima Bosch, in front of dozens of other contestants for failing to post promotional content.

When she objected, Mr Nawat called security and threatened to disqualify those supporting her. Ms Bosch then left the room, and others joined her in solidarity. Video of the incident, which was live-streamed, has been shared online. The Miss Universe competitors – the winners of national pageants in their home countries – attended Tuesday’s (November 4) event in Thailand their sashes and gowns. Some can be heard shouting back at Mr Nawat in the video, after he raises his voice to reprimand Ms Bosch and repeatedly tells her to stop talking.

As many of them stand to show support to Ms Bosch, Mr Nawat is heard saying: “If anyone wants to continue the contest, sit down. If you step out, the rest of the girls continue”.

The majority of the around 75 women present in the video appear standing, before several head towards the door. Among those to walk out included the reigning Miss Universe, Victoria Kjaer Theilvig of Denmark.

After leaving the event, Ms Bosch said the 60-year-old executive was “not respectful” and said he had called her “dumb”. Mr Hawat, however, has disputed this and claims his words have been misunderstood.

He is widely reported to have called the 25-year-old a “dumbhead”. But at a press conference, he later claimed he was saying she had caused “damage”.

The Miss Universe Organisation (MUO) has condemned Mr Nawat’s “malicious” behaviour, which he has since apologised for.

The MUO has also sent a delegation of international executives to take over the running of the competition. In a video statement, MUO President Raul Rocha said Mr Nawat had “forgotten the true meaning of what it means to be a genuine host”.

He said the Thai official had “humiliated, insulted and shown a lack of respect” to Ms Bosch, and committed the “serious abuse of having called security to intimidate a defenceless woman”.

Mr Nawat’s participation in the pageant would be limited “as much as possible” or eliminated entirely, he said, adding the MUO would be taking “legal actions” against him.

“I wish to reiterate that Miss Universe is an empowerment platform for women so that their voices can be heard in the world,” Mr Rocha said.

The winner will be crowned the new Miss Universe on November 21.