Miss Jamaica 2025 sues Miss Universe Organization for stage fall during last year's pageant
Miss Jamaica 2025 Dr. Gabrielle Henry has filed a lawsuit against the Miss Universe Organization over her fall from the pageant stage during a preliminary event for Miss Universe 2025 in Thailand.
According to a PEOPLE report, the suit, which was filed on Sept. 21 in Delaware Superior Court, alleges negligence; premises liability; negligent hiring, retention, and supervision; and both negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Aside from MUO, Henry also named as co-defendants the organization's parent companies JKN Legacy Inc and Legacy Holding Group USA.
Henry wrote in her complaint that on Nov. 19 during rehearsals for a preliminary event, she fell about five feet through an "unmarked and uncovered opening in the stage." According to her, intense lighting aimed at her impaired her vision, which led to her falling off the stage into a space that held lighting equipment and concrete.
Per Henry, who was a practicing ophthalmologist then, she lost consciousness upon impact and suffered "traumatic brain injury with acute subarachnoid hemorrhage, frontal lobe hemorrhagic contusion, and subdural hemorrhage."
She had to be hospitalized from Nov. 19 to Dec. 10, 2025.
Because of her injuries and the intense public scrutiny her fall brought, Henry said that period held the "most traumatic moment" of her life. Further, the media coverage, she said, "has caused, and continues to cause, severe emotional distress distinct from, and in addition to, the distress arising from her physical injuries."
She also had to stop her medical residency because of the "neurological and cognitive symptoms" caused by her fall. Henry added she continues to need ongoing care and rehabilitation.
In her lawsuit, the beauty queen said other contestants also complained about the stage lights and conditions. Following her fall, she alleged the stage was "modified to add bright white lights to illuminate the edging of the stage."
Still, Henry accused the defendants of "wanton, reckless, and in conscious disregard of the safety of Plaintiff and the other contestants."
While MUO has not released an official statement on its social media, it sent one to PEOPLE, where it claimed it "has not been served with, nor has it received, any lawsuit, claim, demand letter, or subpoena from Ms. Henry or anyone acting on her behalf."
The statement also said that while the organization covered Henry's hospital expenses both in Thailand after the accident and later in Jamaica after she was able to travel home, that responsibility fell solely on Miss Grand International and Miss Universe Thailand, both of which are under the direction of Nawat Itsagrisil.
Neither Miss Grand International nor Miss Universe Thailand has released statements to date regarding the lawsuit.
Miss Jamaica has not shared a statement as of writing, either.
The 2025 Miss Universe pageant was plagued with multiple controversies, from the viral walkout of then-Miss Mexico Fatima Bosch and other candidates during a preliminary event to an alleged "impromptu jury," even to Bosch's winning the crown.
