Some social media users seem to have a beef with Act Leader David Seymour after he posted a picture of himself at a barbecue hosted by the University of Auckland's Meat Club.
Act leader David Seymour at a barbecue hosted by University of Auckland's Meat Club. Photo: Facebook
While a handful of hardline vegetarians took exception, the real heat was coming from those objecting to the Meat Club t-shirt Mr Seymour and his friends were wearing.
Some people took to Facebook and Twitter to slam the shirt he wore as being 'sexist'.
The t-shirt depicts a naked woman in silhouette reclining provocatively and it poses the question: "Got meat?"
Green MP Golriz Ghahraman has accused him of acting like it was 1954 and contributing to sexism on campus.
"Being part of the problem on campus in a post #metoo world: proving your manhood doesn't require super gross women are pieces of meat and/or boner reference. Just eat your bbq ACT dudes. No one was questioning your manhood and it's not 1954..."
Being part of the problem on campus in a post #metoo world: proving your manhood doesn’t require super gross women are pieces of meat and/or boner reference. Just eat your bbq ACT dudes. No one was questioning your manhood and it’s not 1954... pic.twitter.com/UWbPEFC8B0
— Golriz Ghahraman (@golrizghahraman) February 26, 2018
Another person wrote on Facebook: "Using women's bodies to sell meat wow how original and daring."
Mr Seymour told Morning Report the club idolises meat so its members don't see being compared with meat as demeaning.
No, I accept some people do but given the full context I think that’s a misperception see above.
— David Seymour (@dbseymour) February 27, 2018
Mr Seymour said there were also t-shirts with men's silhouettes.
"Maybe I should've worn the male one," he said.
Mr Seymour also said that a lot of the social media reaction to the shirt was positive.
Listen to David Seymour's full interview on Morning Report:
After coming into the studio, Mr Seymour took to Twitter to slam his interview with Susie Ferguson.
I guess you have to say that: She'd clearly done no research other than parroting a sexist tweet from another MP, was blindsided when I raised male version of T Shirt then resorted to talking over/cutting me off as her whole narrative fell apart. Amateur.
— David Seymour (@dbseymour) February 27, 2018
