Sun 12 Oct 2014 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
Mr Gay World owner and president Eric Butter The Mr Gay World organisation has acknowledged shortcomings in the running of this year's event in Rome, which saw Mr Gay New Zealand Troy Williams part company from the contest just two days into preparations and rehearsals. Williams and his Australian counterpart, Chris Glebatsas, each say they pulled out of the August 31st contest, variously citing lax organisation, shabby accommodation, bullying by the organisers, lack of commitment to stated community-building objectives and poor attitude to the presence of their partners. Mr Gay World spokesperson Coenie Kukkuk subsequently claimed Williams was kicked out of the contest due to "alcohol abuse" and "transgressing" contest rules. He characterised Glebatsas' departure as an over-reaction to a lack of clean towels in their low-budget accommodation on one day. Both men strongly refute the organisation's allegations against them. The provided statement neither addresses the circumstances of their departures nor the organsiation's public allegations against them. "This year's Mr Gay World event in Rome did not adhere to the standards of our previous events," according to a statement provided by Sydney-based Eric Butter, who is described as the owner and president of Mr Gay World. "This particular year we were in the hands of the hosts and local producers. In Rome there were many hurdles that we encountered along the way." Although the statement cites the local organisers as the basis of the event's shortcomings, Williams has highlighted their "continental director" for Eurpoe, Tore Aasheim, as a particular cause for concern during the Rome event. GayNZ.com has for weeks tried to engage with the Mr Gay World organisation regarding the running of the event, the experiences of the contestants and the organisation's post-event handling of the situation. Last week Butters offered to be interviewed in order to publicly work through the matters of concern but at the last minute withdrew his offer and instead provided the statement below. While not referring to the allegations against the contestants or the two men's rebuttals, the statement says "the board has taken action to address [the many hurdles], including an apology by the President to Mr Gay New Zealand and Mr Gay Australia. We do understand the points they made, we regret the events that made them part company with our competition in Rome." "Mr Gay World is moving forward and we are making sure that our future events meet the high standards and quality that we expect to see at this world wide event," the statement says. GayNZ.com continues to seek clarification on how the Mr Gay World organisation operates; what led to the problems the contestants encountered; what oversight the Mr Gay World directors exercised over the Rome organisers; why the two New Zealand and Australian men were publicly blamed and denigrated for their departures and whether those statements are still valid; if and why the organisation's public statements have been at variance with what appears to have actually happened; why Butters, Kukkuk and their fellow Mr Gay World directors seemed unaware until now of the problems despite attending the event; and how the organisation follows through on its stated objectives of gay human rights activism and respect for gay people. THE STATEMENT READS: In retrospect, this year's Mr Gay World™ event in Rome did not adhere to the standards of our previous events, which have been previously held in Canada, Norway, the Philippines, South Africa and Belgium. It should be understood that Mr. Gay World™ is a voluntary organisation and this particular year we were in the hands of the hosts and local producers. In Rome there were many hurdles that we encountered along the way. The board has taken action to address such, including an apology by the President to Mr Gay New Zealand and Mr Gay Australia. We do understand the points they made, we regret the events that made them part company with our competition in Rome. Mr Gay World™ is moving forward and we are making sure that our future events meet the high standards and quality that we expect to see at this world wide event. The President of Mr Gay World™ has appointed a new Managing Director for the year 2015 that will see us into our next event in South Africa and he has also appointed a Chief Executive Officer that will see to the day to day business and attention that this ever growing event needs in order to meet and maintain the standards that we have long worked for in the past years. Mr Gay World™ has worked previously with the Executive Producers for Mr. Gay World™ in South Africa and we are more than happy and reassured that they will deliver a magnificent event, as they did in 2012. We have already had a presentation of the amenities and it looks superb. [ENDS]
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Sunday, 12th October 2014 - 11:55pm