Mister Global 2014 organizers are
into defensive stance. After earning the ire of the netizens over distasteful
photos, the organizers chose to issue an apology through their facebook page:
In behalf of the Mister Global organization, I would like to apologize
about what happened yesterday (March 23, 2014) during the fashion shoot for a
variety magazine. The photos that circulated in social media were not the
official photos that are supposed to be released for the fashion magazine,
which is one of our media sponsors for the pageant.
The organizers agreed to let some contestants who were chosen by the sponsors to take their photos for
publication in the next magazine issue. Prior to the said photo shoot, the
magazine editorial board submitted a concept for the approval of the Mister
Global organizers. The organizers approved the said concept because they were
deemed good for a fashion magazine. However, the actual concept during the
photo shoot was slightly different than what was originally agreed prior to the
pageant. The photos that have circulated in the social media were also not from
the official photographer of the magazine. The photos taken were all supposed
to be subject for screening prior to publication.
The presence of the little girl who sat with the
contestants during the photo shoot was not part of what the organizers have
previously agreed on. However, the sponsors explained that it was supposed to
be just for personal use and not to be included in the magazine. The parents of
the child were also with her during the entire photo shoot. The organizers and
the sponsors did not intend to spread a wrong message with this kind of photo.
Thus, we humbly ask for the removal of the photos from different websites.
Once again, we sincerely ask for your understanding on
this issue. Rest assured, the Mister Global pageant is not in any way created
to exploit the contestants or to promote pornography. We promise not to create
the same concept again for the next photo shoots and in the next editions of
the pageant.
