This photo sparked furore online but the Rotary Club who posted it say it's been badly misinterpreted.
This photo sparked furore online but the Rotary Club who posted it say it's been badly misinterpreted.
A “light-hearted” Rotary Club event has created a storm of anger and offence after photos emerged of what appeared to be former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s face fixed to a toilet seat.
Images were posted on social media and the website of the Rotary Club of St Johns of agroup of men surrounding the toilet seat with the offending caricature seemingly stuck to the lid.
The posts containing the photos were removed soon after when it became clear people were offended and angry.
“Absolutely disgusting.,” said one woman on Twitter.
“How sad that you work hard to support such worthy initiatives but your local chapter St Johns is promoting disgusting gutter politics against a woman prime minister. I thought Rotary was a non-partisan operation?” another person wrote.
“Disgusted by disrespect shown by two club teams towards NZ’s former PM. What adult puts a woman’s face on a toilet seat? What woman would remain in a club that accepted that behaviour?”
Someone then replied: “Hideous. So called ‘leaders of the community’. Disrespectful.”
It was done in the moment and was meant to signify the team supporting Jacinda had won the annual debate.
Key said it certainly was not taped, stuck or fixed to the seat at any stage.
“It was a great night, but unfortunately the way it was portrayed and interpreted was not,” Key said.
“It was something that was meant to be in good spirits.”
The trophy is an "old ship's toilet" fixed to a wooden base with a plaque. A member of the winning team sat their mask on the trophy for the photo, a Rotary spokesman said. Photo / Supplied
Key said the clubs also erred in their choice of debate theme.
“Rotary is apolitical - so that was our first mistake, " he told the Herald.
