Teal banned from Sydney hairdresser for sex joke

A high-profile election candidate has issued an apology after remarks she made to a teen girl surfaced on morning radio.

The independent candidate for the battleground seat of Bradfield has been banned from a local hairdresser for joking that getting her hair washed was better than sex.

The bizarre election campaign controversy has exploded in the leafy suburbs of the federal electorate located in Sydney’s north shore.

The seat is currently held by Liberal Paul Fletcher, who announced last year he would not be running for re-election in a field including high-profile independent Nicolette Boele (pronounced “Buller”).

Independent candidate for Bradfield Nicolette Boele. Picture: Twitter

However, 2GB radio’s Ben Fordham has revealed her campaign has now hit a snag over racy comments she made to a teenage hairdresser.

“Now, this is a bizarre one,” Fordham said.

“A candidate at the upcoming federal election has apologised for making a comment about sex in front of a teenager.

“And we’re told that she’s been banned from a local hairdresser as a result.”

Fordham said when he first read the email tipping him off about the issue: “We thought, ‘oh, this won’t be true’, but it turns out there’s some truth to it because she’s now apologised.

“The email says Nicolette Boele has been banned from her local hairdresser for sexual comments made to staff.

Ms Boele also ran at the 2022 election.

She has apologised for the remarks.

“They sent her a legal letter last week as the owner wants to protect the young, vulnerable staff.

“The comments were made after her hair was washed and they were directed at a 19-year-old girl.

“She allegedly said that was amazing and I didn’t even have sex with you.”

It’s not known if she was referring to a head massage or simply getting shampooed and conditioned.

But the comments by the middle-aged woman left the teenage hairdresser alarmed.

“The listener says, if that was a man saying that there would and should be an investigation, so why should a woman get away with this?”.

Fordham then revealed the person who tipped off the show found about the controversy because his own wife gets her hair cut at the salon.

2GB presenter Ben Fordham in his studio. Picture: John Feder/The Australian.

“My wife is a customer at the hairdressers, so I want to point out that this is in no way politically motivated,” he reassured his listeners.

“I’m not a member of any political party, but I do live in the seat of Bradfield.

“So that’s the allegation. The independent candidate for Bradfield, Nicolette Boele cracked a racy joke at the hairdressers and as a result, she’s been banned.”

In a statement, the independent pledged to “do better.”

“It was a poor attempt at humour and I’ve apologised. Everyone deserves to feel respected in their workplace and I’ll do better,” Ms Boele told new.com.au.

The drama unfolded at the Envy Room salon in Gordon, which bills itself as offering cuts that are “a work of art.”

“At Envy Room we don’t just cut and colour hair,” the website states.

“We do with our passion, our perspective, our trend knowledge and our advice.

The Envy Room Salon in Gordon.

“We create architectural styles that reflect every individual’s unique personality.

“We are inspired by the poetic beauty of hair.”

Ms Boele is an executive who has worked in climate finance at the Responsible Investment Association of Australasia, the Investor Group on Climate Change, and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation.

She has repeatedly spoken out about gender, feminism and violence against women.

“It’s systemic,” she said.

Originally published as Teal banned from Sydney hairdresser for sex joke