A signed copy of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s transcript of her calling the leader of a minor opposition party an “arrogant moron” has sold for more than $100,000 at an auction to raise money for prostate cancer.
The prime minister’s muttered taunt was caught on a hot microphone during a parliamentary debate last week, following a series of questions from David Seymour, leader of New Zealand’s libertarian right-wing party.
“He’s such an arrogant fool,” the Prime Minister said as he returned to his seat next to Deputy Prime Minister and close political ally Grant Robertson. The remark was caught on her microphone and preserved in the official Hansard parliamentary record after Seymour demanded an apology.
After the heated exchange went viral, the pair – usually at political odds – joined forces in a show of Christmas goodwill to sign and auction off a copy of the parliamentary minutes for charity. All proceeds will go to prostate cancer research “for pricks everywhere,” the auction said.
Hot mic moment: Jacinda Ardern calls minor opposition party leader an ‘arrogant fool’ – video
Bidding closed on Thursday at NZ$100,100. Responding to the news of the sum, Ardern said in a Facebook post: “I can’t say I expected this – a mistake with the old microphone in Parliament turned into $100,100 for the Prostate Cancer Foundation.
“Thanks David for being a good sport,” she continued, “And everyone, Merry Christmas!”
The winning bidder “will receive a framed print of the Parliamentary Hansard, co-signed by the Rt Hon Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern and the once-arrogant fool Act Party leader David Seymour,” the description reads.
Ardern’s outspoken comment came after a series of questions about whether the prime minister stood behind all her statements and policies, and ended with a plea for her to “make an example of when she made a mistake, apologize properly for it and make it right”.
By the time Seymour demanded a formal apology for the remark, Ardern had left the room – but she sent him a text message to apologise. She later joked in Parliament that she stood behind all the statements – including “insults and apologies”.
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