Following allegations of mistreatment during her reign, Miss Venezuela 2024 and Miss Universe second runner-up Stephany Abasali has publicly detailed frustrations with the association and the handling of the recent pageant. In response, television host Maite Delgado, who emceed the event, has issued a statement clarifying her role and defending the production’s decisions. Delgado maintains she and her co-host adhered strictly to a pre-determined script, emphasizing limitations on live broadcast versatility.
The fallout from the recent Miss Venezuela pageant continues to unfold, with new statements emerging from those involved. Following allegations of mistreatment during her reign by Miss Venezuela 2024 and Miss Universe second runner-up Stephany Abasali, television host Maite Delgado has spoken out to clarify her position and defend her performance as the event’s emcee.
Delgado took to social media to express her sympathy for Abasali’s experience, while emphasizing that the decisions made during the show were beyond her control.
The host explained that, along with her co-host José Andrés Padrón, she was strictly adhering to the script provided by the show’s production team.
“I deeply regret that she didn’t have the beautiful night she dreamed of,” Delgado wrote on Instagram. “But that in no way depended on me, or my co-host.”
What Did Maite Delgado Say About Stephany Abasali?
Delgado clarified that in a large-scale televised event like Miss Venezuela, hosts don’t have the authority to adjust timing or deviate from the pre-planned format. This is a common practice in live television production, where precision is key.
She refuted suggestions that she deliberately prevented Abasali from speaking on stage, calling such claims “alien to the reality of professional work in television.”
“…[There] aren’t informalities like ‘ask them for the microphone, they’ll surely give it to you,’ as someone apparently told her. Anyone responsible and professional knows that doesn’t happen,” she added.
Delgado affirmed she welcomes criticism but stressed she would never intentionally act to harm a contestant. “Those who know me know that I would never lend myself to doing ‘evil,’ whatever that means,” she stated.
Stephany Abasali Shared Her Experience During Miss Venezuela
Delgado’s statements came after an interview with presenter Rodner Figueroa, in which Abasali described her frustration at being denied the opportunity to address the audience during the crowning ceremony.
According to her account, she was initially told she would have a speaking slot, but discovered it wasn’t included in the official run of show when the event began.
Abasali said this situation caused her significant emotional distress, as she felt robbed of a symbolic moment to say goodbye to her reign. She also claimed she received no clear guidance regarding the final act’s logistics or the crown handover.
“From then on, I had to act everything out because I couldn’t show that I was heartbroken,” she declared.
