NZ PM John Key Sorry For Pulling Waitress’ Hair Repeatedly

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key has apologised for repeatedly pulling a waitress’ hair. The unnamed café staff wrote about the unwanted attention she got from the country’s highest leader for six months, saying Mr Key relentlessly terrorised her with his “schoolyard bully” tactic.

A spokeswoman for Mr Key released a statement, saying the National Party leader has apologised to the woman. “It’s a familiar café which he regularly visits with Bronagh and both have a good relationship with those who work there,” the rep said, referring to Mr Key’s wife. “His actions were intended to be light-hearted. It was never his intention to make her feel uncomfortable and he has apologised to her.”

‘Schoolyard Bullying’

Writing for the left-wing site The Daily Blog anonymously, the waitress recounted how the PM would pull her hair every time he visited the unnamed café. At first the waitress thought it was just his way of being friendly and playful. However, Mr Key apparently repeatedly pulled her hair whenever he was in the establishment. She did not say anything at first, but she made it obvious by action that she did not like his behaviour.

And despite her objections, Mr Key still continued to do the same. She told his security staff one time that she was sick of the PM pulling her hair, threatening that she might punch him in the face if she snapped. She hoped the security would tell Mr Key her message. Unfortunately, he didn’t stop. She also posted messages on the National Party and Mr Key’s Facebook pages, saying plainly to “Stop pulling my hair — I don’t like it!”

She started avoiding him whenever he was in the premises, but he still managed to sneak up on her and pull her ponytail. It’s not like Mr Key just thought she enjoyed being chase as well. According to the waitress, she told him “No!” when he tried to do it again one time. Mr Key then allegedly asked her manager if she did not really like him pulling her ponytail, in which the manager answered, “well, no!”

During another visit, Mr Key, knowing that she hated his uncalled-for teasing, “approached me like he thought it would be fitting to raise his hands high and make scary, suspense sound effects, like the music from the movie Jaws that we all know so well, and still gestured as if to reach behind me.” As Mr Key was towering over her and she visibly cringed and slunk down, Bronagh told him to “leave the poor girl alone.”

“Please STOP or I will actually hit you soon!” the waitress warned him, not caring anymore that she was making a scene. Mr Key later on reappeared in the café, holding two bottles of JK 2012 PM’s Pinot Noir. He went over to her and handed her the wine bottles, smiling as he said, “This is for you. Sorry, I didn’t realise.” He rushed out of the café before she could say a word. She knew that his apology was just a PR move, most probably done in a bid to contain the situation.

Insincere Apology

It was also an apology that she didn’t appreciate, saying, “…I pretty much felt like in my hands was a bribe. ‘I didn’t realise.’ Really?! That was almost more offensive than the harassment itself.”

“John seemed to think that his job demanded less professionalism than that of a waitress, yet he’s the one that’s running our entire country. Unfortunately, when our poor country is left cringing, tormented, cowering in the corner, it can’t be fixed with a bottle of wine, and neither was this. I’m telling this story because I’m the only one who can and it seems he needs reminding that he’s not a god, he’s just a man,” the waitress concluded, attaching a picture of the bottles of wine.

Contact the writer: a.lu@ibtimes.com.au