As the two factions of the pageant continue their long-running feud.
In separate statements released on Friday, September 18, the two factions of the Miss Universe pageant have once again engaged in exchanges on their respective platforms.
This time, the side led by Raul Rocha Cantú, also known as known as MU West, declared that the Miss Universe Eastern (MU East), which is prominently led by Nawat Itsaragrisil and other officers, is not a “licensed entity authorized to grant or otherwise confer operational rights over the Miss Universe brand in any territory.”
“Miss Universe Eastern Pte. Ltd. has no authority, whether independently or through any purported arrangement, to grant, assign, transfer, or otherwise confer any license or operational rights concerning the Miss Universe brand, and no valid legal or contractual licensing framework is currently in place authorizing it to do so,” it told.
Thus, their camp declared that all agreements executed by MU East are “void ab initio,” specifically it granting licenses to use the Miss Universe brand in any territory, as well as the sponsorship agreements, country licenses, franchise agreements and other commercial arrangements.
“The authority to grant or authorize such rights rests with JKN Universe LLC. Consequently, any purported granting of Miss Universe licensing rights by Miss Universe Eastern Pte. Ltd., or by any entity or affiliate acting under its authority, has no legal effect and cannot create, transfer, assign, or confer any valid rights in the Miss Universe brand,” they said in their statement.
Meanwhile, on Monil Hathi, who acts as a director or representative of Miss Universe Eastern Pte. Ltd., the MU West camp said is “operating as proxy and surrogate director for the company that holds a 50% ownership interest in the entity that owns the Miss Universe trademark.”
Meanwhile, answering the Thai beauty pageant owner’s recent posts on social media alluding to the supposed internal financial details of the Miss Universe Organization: “That information is unverified, unsubstantiated, and presented under demonstrably false pretenses. Mr. Itsaragrisil has no access to, communication with, or standing before the legitimate directives or officers of the Organization; accordingly, he possesses no authentic or verified financial data of the Organization.”
According to the western side, the “selective and misleading circulation of such purported information,” which it said was “designed to generate confusion and reputational harm constitutes a direct material interference with the Organization’s operations, its franchise network, its sponsors, and the global Miss Universe community.”
Moreover, “The public dissemination of organizational matters that have not been formally established, audited, or verified by the Organization’s legitimate authorities, and which are communicated by an individual with no legal standing within the Organization, represents a deliberate act of interference and reputational aggression that the Miss Universe Organization condemns in the strongest possible terms and will address through all available legal mechanisms.“
In addition, JKN Universe LLC also denied recent statements made by Nawat Itsaragrisil concerning the financial affairs of the company.
“By disseminating false, misleading, and incomplete information through his social media channels, Mr. Itsaragrisil has made, and continues to make, statements concerning individuals associated with the company and previous Miss Universe competitions that are inaccurate and unsupported by the facts. Such statements have the potential to cause significant harm to the reputation and integrity of the Miss Universe brand,” the company said.
It added, “JKN Universe LLC reserves all rights to pursue any and all appropriate civil and criminal remedies against any individual who knowingly or negligently disseminates false or misleading statements, or otherwise engages in conduct intended to damage the reputation, business interests, or goodwill of the Miss Universe brand and its affiliated entities.“
NON-RECOGNITION OF SIX FRANCHISES UNDER MU EASTERN
Meanwhile, JKN Universe LLC said that after its examination, they found that the franchise and license agreements purportedly entered into for the national Miss Universe franchises that were executed by Nawat Itsaragrisil and/or entities associated with him were done through, as the western side alleged, “a fundamentally illegitimate contractual arrangement.”
“The entities through which these arrangements were executed have not entered into any Franchise License Agreement, or a legal licensing instrument, with JKN Universe LLC, the legal holder of the rights to license the Miss Universe brand, nor were they authorized to grant, sublicense, or otherwise confer such rights,” it said.
“Accordingly, any national franchise arrangement executed without a legal licensing framework is unauthorized, void, and confers no valid Miss Universe franchise rights. JKN Universe LLC cannot recognize or accept any rights purportedly granted under such arrangements ” they furthered.
The six affevted franchises are all from Southeast Asia and they are Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia, and Singapore.
“In light of the false and misleading statements publicly made by Mr. Itsaragrisil, as well as the lack of any valid contractual framework governing the purported arrangements, JKN Universe LLC regrets to inform that contestants representing the a forementioned countries will not be eligible to participate in the 75th Miss Universe Competition,” they said.
MISS GRAND INTERNATIONAL’S RESPONSE
Miss Grand International Public Company Limited (MGI), which is owned by Nawat Itsaragrisil, said it has become aware of a public statement purporting to be issued on behalf of JKN Universe LLC and/or the Miss Universe Organization.
MGI is the parent company of MU East.
“MGI categorically rejects these assertions,” the group said. “MGI is the contractual rights holder and/or authorized operator of the Miss Universe licenses and related rights for the six territories identified above pursuant to agreements and arrangements entered into these arrangements in reliance upon the contractual authority, representations, corporate structure, and rights. granted to MU East.”
It also emphasized that the company “acted in good faith” at all times and that it has made substantial investments, entered into commercial arrangements, appointed national representatives, engaged business partners and sponsors, and undertaken extensive preparations in reliance upon those contractual rights.
“MGI therefore does not recognize any unilateral declaration by any individual, management faction, or other party purporting to invalidate, revoke, suspend, interfere with, or otherwise prejudice MGI’s contractual rights, unless such action is demonstrated to have been taken pursuant to valid corporate authority and in accordance with all applicable contractual requirements and governing law,” they said.
The MGI also further noted that there is an ongoing dispute concerning the corporate authority and governance of the entities associated with the Miss Universe Organization.
“Publicly available reporting has documented competing positions concerning the authority of MU East and MU West. Accordingly, assertions made by one side of that dispute should not, by themselves, be treated as a final judicial or contractual determination of MGI’s rights,” it said.
Meanwhile, it also regarded the attempt to prevent the duly selected representatives of Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia, and Singapore from participating in the 75th Miss Universe Competition as one that “may cause substantial and potentially irreparable harm not only to MGI, but also to the respective National Directors, contestants, sponsors, mmercial partners and other stakeholders who have acted in reliance upon these rights.”
“MGI will take all necessary and appropriate legal measures to protect its contractual rights, commercial interests, investments, reputation, and the rights associated with all six territories,” it assured these national pageants, highlighting possible actions such as seeking injunctive and other equitable relief, damages, recovery of losses andexpenses, and any other remedies available under applicable laws and contractual arrangements against any person entity responsible for “unlawful interference with MGI’s rights.”
For the avoidance of doubt, MGI also stressed that it “does not accept that a unilateral public statement can extinguish or invalidate legally binding contractual rights, nor does MGI accept that contestants who have been duly selected under those rights may simply be declared ineligible without proper contractual and legal authority.”
It then called upon all parties to immediately refrain from taking any action that may interfere with the rights, operations, contestants, National Directors, sponsors, partners or commercial interests associated with the six territories pending the proper resolution of the underlying corporate and contractual disputes.
