Air NZ cuts gay kiss from in-flight safety film

File photo / Hawke's Bay Today

A scene in Air New Zealand's in-flight safety video depicting All Black Richard Kahui turning down a peck on the cheek from a male flight attendant is to being pulled after complaints from the gay community.

The scene was part of a Crazy About Rugby video which involved members of the All Black team, including coach Graham Henry and captain Richie McCaw.

The complaints included a suggestion that the scene could lead to gay male suicides, The Dominion Post reported.

Air NZ operations and safety manager David Morgan said the video had been a phenomenal success.

"When we created this video and discussed the scene featuring a gay male flight attendant and a rugby player with key stakeholders, including a number of the gay community, we received none of the feedback we have in the past week," Mr Morgan said.

"The scene was not something that we, the people we tested the scene with, or indeed the participants in the scene, viewed as distasteful or likely to cause concern."

The flight attendant involved in the scene, Will Coxhead, was shocked with the reaction to the video.

"I'm absolutely gutted that a couple of people in the gay community have ruined this for everyone else.

"I'm proud to be gay, proud to be an Air New Zealander and extremely proud of my role in the safety video. Obviously there are some people in the gay community that can be a little precious and need to lighten up."

The change to the video will start being uploaded on to aircraft this week and the video will be phased out by February.

- NZPA