Steve Harvey’s now- infamous “Miss Universe” gaffe may have never happened if he didn’t miss the last hour of rehearsals, according to a report.

The host didn’t practice reading the winner’s names — perhaps the most important part of the show.

“Steve went to the beginning of rehearsals, but missed the last hour, at least,” a source told Entertainment Tonight. “The name of the winner is not in the prompter [because] they don’t want the girls to see it,” the source added.

The person also squashed rumors that the whole debacle was a publicity stunt, saying there is “no way.”

Harvey’s flub — where he announced the winner as Miss Colombia, only to take her crown away moments later when he realized the real winner was Miss Philippines — has gone viral since Sunday’s beauty pageant.

Harvey apologized shortly after the show, claiming he misread the cue card and that it was an “honest mistake.”