The Green Party has cancelled its Auckland campaign launch, but says it has nothing to do with comedian Rose Matafeo claiming she was dumped from the event.
Rose Matafeo. Photo: Twitter / Rose Matafeo
Yesterday, Matafeo took to Twitter to voice her frustration at being asked to stand down from MCing at the launch.
"Feel incredibly disappointed to be asked to step down from MCing the Green Party campaign launch, apparently at the request of one of their MPs.
"I have no relationship with this person, so am feeling a little confused," she said.
Feel incredibly disappointed to be asked to step down from MCing the Green Party campaign launch, apparently at the request of one of their MPs. I have no relationship with this person, so am feeling a little confused
— Rose Matafeo (@Rose_Matafeo) June 28, 2020
Matafeo posted an email online, which said the decision to pull her from the event was made by Green MP Golriz Ghahraman - the MP in question - who was cc'd in.
Matafeo had previously dated Ghahraman's partner, comedian Guy Williams.
"The only possible reason it could be is so petty that I wouldn't dream of suggesting it," Matafeo said.
The event in question that Matafeo had planned to volunteer for has been cancelled, however the Green Party said this was not their main campaign launch.
It said the event was cancelled due to there not being enough RSVPs.
The larger, main campaign launch and other party events are still being organised for next month.
Ghahraman said she only found out about the MC cancellation yesterday.
"It's absolutely awful and devastating that someone was made to feel badly when they have tried to volunteer for us and we raised it with the party immediately, they've spoken to Rose and I've reached out and said we should talk directly.
"It appears to be a misunderstanding or a logistical problem," she said.
Ghahraman said she had not seen Matafeo's email come through last week, but the decision was not made by her and Matafeo was welcome to host.
