Nearly a year after a dramatic fall during the 2025 Miss Universe competition in Bangkok, former Miss Universe Jamaica Gabrielle Henry is taking legal action against the Miss Universe Organization and its parent companies.
Henry, an ophthalmology resident and doctor, filed a lawsuit on September 21 in Delaware Superior Court against the Miss Universe Organization, JKN Legacy Inc. and Legacy Holding Group USA. The complaint alleges negligence, premises liability, negligent hiring, retention and supervision, as well as negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
The case stems from the November 19, 2025 preliminary competition, when Henry was participating in the evening-gown segment. According to her lawsuit, she was following the rehearsed choreography when she fell approximately five feet through what she describes as an unmarked and uncovered opening in the stage. The complaint says the opening contained lighting equipment and a concrete base.
Henry told Good Morning America that she has no memory of the actual fall. She recalled following instructions to look toward the cameras before turning, saying the next thing she remembered was waking up to see her mother. She subsequently learned that she had suffered a brain bleed and other serious injuries.
Her lawsuit alleges that powerful stage lighting directed toward her impaired her ability to see the edge of the platform. It also claims that contestants had raised concerns about the lighting and staging before the incident. These allegations have not been established in court.
The injuries were severe. Henry suffered a traumatic brain injury, intracranial bleeding, a frontal-lobe hemorrhagic contusion, a fracture and facial lacerations. She remained hospitalized in Bangkok from November 19 through December 10, including time in intensive care under neurological monitoring. According to the lawsuit, she has continued to experience neurological and cognitive symptoms requiring ongoing care and rehabilitation.
The consequences have also affected Henry’s medical career. The lawsuit says she was unable to resume her medical residency following the accident and seeks damages related to medical treatment, rehabilitation, emotional distress, lost earning capacity and professional opportunities.
Henry has also spoken about the emotional impact of the incident and the attention surrounding the viral footage of her fall. In her interview with Good Morning America, she described the experience as deeply traumatic and said she continues to deal with pain and difficult nights during her recovery.
The Miss Universe Organization has disputed aspects of Henry’s account. In statements to ABC News and PEOPLE, the organization said it had not yet been formally served with the lawsuit and therefore could not comment on claims it had not reviewed. It also said responsibility for the venue, stage and on-site safety rested with the local host and production entities, Miss Grand International and Miss Universe Thailand.
The organization further said it paid Henry’s hospital and treatment expenses and later offered her a goodwill ambassador role. Henry, however, has said she did not receive the ongoing medical-expense support she expected after returning to Jamaica. Those competing accounts are now part of the legal dispute.
The lawsuit places the circumstances surrounding Henry’s fall before the court, where questions about stage safety, responsibility, medical support and the alleged impact on her career can be examined through the legal process.
For Henry, the case comes nearly one year after an accident that dramatically changed the path of her medical and professional life. She has said her focus now is on continuing her recovery and moving forward while seeking accountability for what happened.
