‘MEDIAWORKS DOES NOT CONDONE OFFENSIVE BEHAVIOUR’

Shock jock Paul Henry accused of ‘harassment’

A contrite Paul Henry insists he ‘‘meant no harm’’ by making comments about a woman’s breasts during an interview.

During an expletive-laden interview, the popular breakfast TV host said that a woman sitting near him had ‘‘the perfect titties’’.

When first approached at his home in Auckland last night, Henry appeared unfazed by the furore around the interview, offering a relaxed ‘‘no comment’’.

But as pressure mounted, he issued a statement through his employer, MediaWorks. ‘‘I meant no harm or offence by what I said,’’ he insisted.

‘‘There is absolutely no way the woman could have heard the conversation that took place. I would never want to make anyone feel uncomfortable.’’

Social commentator Michele A’Court believes the conversation was a form of ‘‘sexual harassment’’ – whether the woman could hear him or not.

‘‘I find that sort of childish, boyish commentary on what a woman looks like sitting next to him in a restaurant really childish and offensive,’’ he said.

‘‘The tragedy is it’s just in keeping with his persona and they really enjoy having a so-called bad boy fronting their breakfast programme.’’

The banter between Henry and his publicist Anneke Bodde was ‘‘entirely unnecessary’’, she said.

During the interview with an NZME journalist, Bodde asked about the breasts of another woman and went on to say: ‘‘Wait until she has children . . . they won’t be perfect then.’’

Shortly after, the woman put on and zipped up a jacket, causing Henry to comment that she had covered them up and ‘‘hermetically f ..... g sealed them, in leather!’’

He went on to say: ‘‘I don’t know that she could have heard that, but if she did, you know what? She’s going to walk away 1) outraged, which is a feeling people love, and 2) very f ..... g proud. ‘Outraged and Proud, of Remuera’.’’

It is unclear whether Henry or Bodde will face any employment action, but in a statement a MediaWorks spokeswoman said the company ‘‘does not condone offensive behaviour’’.

A’Court said she considered the conversation was the restaurant equivalent to a man shouting at a woman walking down the street from a passing car.

‘‘I would call that sexual harassment, I believe she was being objectified as a woman. She hadn’t engaged in the unsolicited, unwarranted commentary on the way she looks.

‘‘They’re the rantings of a self-absorbed person.’’

A’Court said Henry was hosted a news programme and ‘‘should be someone we trust and respect, and look up to.

The conversation had also undone Henry’s ‘‘good work’’ in discussing domestic violence on his TV show, said Jill Proudfoot, the director of domestic abuse charity Shine.

‘‘When he comes out with comments like this it kind of undermines what he says,’’ Proudfoot said.

She said his words reflected a broader culture of disrespect toward women.

‘‘For someone in his public position to say these things it normalises it.

‘‘There’s still a core of people who kind of think that type of talk is acceptable and funny. Most women don’t. Most men don’t now either.’’

White Ribbon ambassador Richie Hardcore, who regularly appears in a morning slot on Paul Henry, thought ‘‘objectification as a behaviour is dehumanising’’.

‘‘I think it’s reflective of broader society. People don’t often consider it problematic because it’s so normalised,’’ he said.

But, he said that instead of berating Henry, we should be ‘‘educating’’ people.

‘‘It’s important for the media and the public not to say you’re bad or wrong as a person. If we’re trying our best to engage and educate and change those norms, that’s beneficial.’’

Former TVNZ Breakfast host Rawdon Christie said Henry was ‘‘probably loving the attention’’.

‘‘Suffice to say, were Paul Henry running for Prime Minister or any public office I might care, but he isn’t. He’s an entertainer. Simple. No need to add oxygen to this – he’ll probably be loving the attention.’’

But whether he enjoys the attention or not, the expletive-laden interview was a ‘‘career wrecking ball’’, according to media expert Brian Edwards.

Edwards shared a post on his website and social media, saying his preferred headline for the story would have been ‘‘Suicide note from a deranged narcissist’’.

In his post, Edwards spoke about the effects fame can have on people, and urged Henry to, ‘‘get some help, mate’’.

‘‘My point is that I know about fame if only in your own backyard. It’s corrosive and corrupting. It turns mild-mannered men and women into monsters,’’ Edwards wrote.

‘‘Been there! Experienced that! And then one day you’re overcome by some self-destructive impulse to smash it all down.’’

I believe she was being objectified as a woman. She hadn’t engaged in the unsolicited, unwarranted commentary on the way she looks. Michele A’Court