The Colombian man who posted the video burning Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach has issued an apology.
Norman Almanza Barraza apologized and explained that burning effigies of controversial or notable figures is a New Year’s Eve tradition in Colombia and that he meant no insult to Wurtzbach and the Philippines.
He said: “The video that I uploaded to my social networks showing some dolls on New Year’s Eve is a tradition of my country. We burned dolls of personalities who have caused controversy or been in the news in 2015 to leave behind what happened in 2015. With the burning of the dolls, we begin a new year. At no time did we mean to hurt or offend the people of the Philippines. I am very sad and repentant because of the stir caused by the video, but I was not the only one who burned such dolls. I ask for forgiveness. I am sorry.”
The video posted by Barraza on January 1, 2016, has taken down the video from his Facebook page (but uploaded by several netizens) after receiving negative comments worldwide.