According to ZnewsManalo, 28, hosted the Mister International 2025 finale in Thailand on Sept. 25. The following day, during a livestream, Itsaragrisil was asked about her hosting skills. He replied that while Manalo is very beautiful, her speaking style as a host was “quite sleepy.”

The remark provoked anger among Filipino fans, who labeled his comments “unprofessional” and expressed concern that they could negatively affect Manalo’s confidence ahead of the Miss Universe 2025 pageant, scheduled for Nov. 21 in Thailand.

In response to the backlash, Itsaragrisil livestreamed on Saturday morning to clarify and apologize. He said: “I think she [Manalo] is very beautiful and friendly, which is why she is one of the contestants this year. I was only joking—it wasn’t serious.”

“It was just a playful conversation,” he added. “When I like someone, I talk in a joking way to get closer to them, like with a sister. However, if Filipino fans felt unhappy about what I said, I apologize and promise not to do it again with Manalo.”

At 53, Itsaragrisil is a Thai television host and producer. He founded Miss Grand International in 2013, a pageant emphasizing humanitarian causes, with titleholders acting as spokespeople and participating in charitable campaigns during their reign. Contestants are selected by national franchise holders through competitions, internal casting, or direct appointment.

In Feb. 2025, it was announced that Itsaragrisil had obtained a five-year license to oversee Miss Universe Thailand.

This is not the first controversy involving Itsaragrisil. After the 2022 Miss Grand International pageant, he sparked criticism for comments on Vietnam’s representative Doan Thien An, remarking that her body proportions were unbalanced and defending her placement in the Top 20.