A GRIFFITH man who made headlines around the world after raging against a satirical TV ad has offered a heartfelt apology on a national radio program, declaring “I was pathetic”.
Max Barrett, 44, will face court this month on six charges following his alleged dummy spit last week in response to a local Knockonwood television commercial, featuring two animated kookaburras speaking in thick New Zealand accents.
On Friday afternoon, police claim Kiwi-born Barrett was so incensed by the 30-second ad he verbally abused employees of the network that airs it, WIN television, and pushed one of the station’s advertising executives.
One man’s spray at a quirky TV ad gained international attention, appearing in newspapers from Canada to Christchurch and on a raft of television and radio programs.
On Tuesday, a sheepish Barrett called nationally syndicated talkback host Ray Hadley to issue an on-air apology for his actions, conceding he had “anger management issues”.
“I just wanted to express my deep humiliation and remorse for my behaviour,” he said.
“My main reason for the call is I seen (sic) the segment on the Today Show this morning and once again it just reiterates my ... humiliation.”
When asked by Hadley what possessed him to “get so cranky about a TV ad”, Barrett replied: “Just being a pathetic individual I guess”.
He admitted to the radio host he had consumed two drinks before the incident and had been angry at the “racist” tone of the ad for weeks.
He said while he did have anger management issues, finding help for them in a place like Griffith was not easy.
“I’ve tried to seek help but it’s pretty hard to get any sort of help here,” Barrett said.
Barrett indicated he would fight some of the six charges, which include common assault, intimidation, resisting arrest, intimidating police and misusing a telecommunications device.
