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Jacqui Lambie denies gay slur claim: “I’m not a homophobe”
Controversial senator Jacqui Lambie has pushed back at claims she is homophobic after her burst of rage at Qantas staff in March.
The Age reported on Thursday morning that Ms Lambie had threatened staff members with “p*ssy power.”
She reportedly also referred to Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce, who is gay, with a homophobic slur.
“Your CEO is a poof,” she was reported to have said during the incident on March 25.
The outburst is alleged to have been made in the Chairman’s Lounge in Melbourne.
However on Friday, the Tasmanian politician vehemently denied the claims.
She admitted she was out of line to “blow her top” at a Qantas worm after a long day, but refuses any accusations she said anything homophobic.
“I never said it. I’d never say that. I know I can’t just deny it and expect people to believe me, so I went and got proof,” she said.
“I’ve got witnesses confirming I never said it. Qantas doesn’t think I said it.
“I’m not a homophobe, and I don’t know why someone is anonymously accusing me of being one. It never happened.
“What did happen was I blew my top at a Qantas worker who didn’t deserve it, and I apologised to them, I’ll apologise now, and I’ll wear the consequences.
“But I can’t apologise for something I never did. I never used that homophobic slur. Anyone who knows me knows it’s something I’d never do.”
The leader Jacqui Lambie explained she had been banned by Qantas for six months on Thursday for blowing up at staff behind the embarrassing measure.
Ms Lambie revealed to Today that she had apologised after she “blew her stack” at staff.
“I have apologised profusely, I went on a rant and I deserve everything I got from Qantas,” she said.
“I’ve tried to apologise to those staff members and I’ve even written a letter myself apologising for that a few months ago.
“That ban will stay – I deserve every bit of that ban, and once again I am profusely apologetic to those staff members involved.”
The Tasmanian senator said regrets blowing her top at Qantas employees after a long and hard day, during the Today show on Thursday.
“It had been a long few weeks up in parliament, and it’s just been a really, really long year,” she said.
“Basically, I blew my stack.
“Unfortunately, there were a couple of Qantas staff members that wore that, and they should never have worn that, and basically it was really unfair of me to do what I did to them.
“I am extremely apologetic for my behaviour for that few minutes.”
Karl Stefanovic offered a cheeky suggestion for the politician.
“If you want to let off some steam just call Ali or me,” he joked in reference to co-host Allison Langdon.
“I’ve got your number,” Ms Lambie returned.
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Image: Getty
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