Miss Universe Leadership Allegedly Blamed Miss Jamaica for Not ‘Paying Attention’ After Her ‘Scary’ On-Stage Fall

Miss Haiti contestant says staff  “did not handle” the aftermath appropriately- People Magazine.

Miss Jamaica Gabrielle Henry remains hospitalized after her frightening fall from the Miss Universe preliminary stage — and now, a fellow contestant is speaking out about how the situation was handled behind the scenes.

During the preliminary round, Henry slipped and fell off the stage while modeling her orange evening gown. The 74th Miss Universe competition is taking place in Bangkok, Thailand. Video of the incident quickly went viral, showing the 22-year-old contestant being carried out of the arena on a stretcher.
One week later, she is still in the hospital.

Now, Miss Haiti Melissa Sapini, who was also competing in Bangkok, tells People Magazine that pageant leadership allegedly addressed the incident in a way that shocked many contestants.

Contestant Says Staff Initially Blamed Henry

According to Sapini, contestants were summoned to a meeting shortly after the fall. She claims a staff member opened the discussion by placing responsibility on Henry herself.

“I don’t know that they handled that correctly,” Sapini says. “The first thing he said was, ‘It’s because she wasn’t paying attention.’”

Sapini says the staff member followed that remark with the organization’s standard reassurance:

“After he said that, then he was like, ‘Of course, safety is our number one priority,’ but we were all like… are you serious? That was really scary.”

The Miss Universe Organization has not responded to WMV’s request for comment.

Contestants Felt Worn Down by a Series of Incidents

Sapini shares that Henry’s fall was one of several moments that left contestants emotionally drained.

“There were so many little things,” she recalls. “We finally had a moment of downtime between prelims and finals, and my roommate and I were just sitting in silence, reading articles. Our faces were drained. You could just see dreams and hopes lost.”

Henry’s Medical Condition

Miss Universe owner Raul Rocha posted an update on Instagram following a visit to Henry in the hospital:

“Thankfully, there are no broken bones and she is under good care,” Rocha wrote.

However, Henry’s condition has kept her from returning to competition events.

Her sister, Dr. Phylicia Henry-Samuels, who is now in Thailand with their mother, confirmed that Gabrielle remains in the ICU. Doctors have determined she must stay for at least seven days as they continue close monitoring and specialized care.

Meanwhile, Rocha, has reportedly been charged with drug trafficking, weapons smuggling, and illicit fuel distribution, according to Mexican newspaper Reforma. Prosecutors allege that Rocha oversaw a sophisticated criminal network operating between Mexico and Guatemala, using legitimate businesses as cover for illicit operations.

Legal documents cited in multiple reports describe an elaborate fuel-smuggling scheme in which fuel was transported from Guatemala into Mexico, chemically altered to mask its origin, and sold through companies linked to Rocha. The same network is also accused of acquiring firearms and distributing them to criminal groups across several Mexican states.

Authorities say Rocha’s alleged activities formed part of a multinational criminal organisation operating under layers of corporate and logistical fronts. Following the issuance of an arrest warrant, Rocha reportedly entered into a witness-cooperation agreement. Although details remain sealed, legal experts suggest such an agreement could significantly reduce potential penalties if Rocha provides testimony against other members of the alleged network.

The charges come at a turbulent time for the Miss Universe brand. The 2025 pageant had already drawn scrutiny after a series of high-profile controversies, including several judges resigning shortly before the finale, widespread allegations of scoring irregularities, and tense behind-the-scenes disputes.

A heated confrontation involving a pageant executive and Miss Mexico, Fátima Bosch — who ultimately won the crown — set off a wave of public criticism and cast further doubt on the organisation’s internal stability.

The Miss Universe Organization has not issued a public statement regarding Rocha’s reported charges or the ongoing federal investigation.