‘F*** off’: Ex-Mayor allegedly explodes over coriander in council Christmas buffet
A former Sydney Mayor allegedly told councillors to “f**k off” during an outburst over what she believed to be coriander in the Christmas buffet.
A former Sydney Mayor allegedly told councillors to “f**k off” during an outburst over what she believed to be coriander in the Christmas buffet.
The Daily Telegraph reports that the tense scenes unfolded on Tuesday night during a festive feast put on by Waverley Council for staff and councillors to mark the end of the year, with a spread including seafood, meats and salads — along with some green sauces and garnishes.
Witnesses told the newspaper that shortly after the event began, Labor Councillor Paula Masselos became upset at what she claimed was coriander, to which she is allergic, over some of the food.
Cr Masselos reportedly took particular offence to the salmon, “which had chimichurri sauce and some leaves on it”.
Chimichurri is a South American condiment, often served with grilled meat, that typically includes parsley, oregano, garlic, oil, vinegar and chilli pepper.
According to the report, Cr Masselos declared she couldn’t eat the food and argued with council general manager Emily Scott, who suggested it might not be coriander, before the chef was summoned carrying a “tub of leaves that she had used to show it wasn’t coriander”.
“Someone tasted the leaves to say it wasn’t coriander, but Masselos was not happy with that and said her taste buds told her it was coriander,” the witness told The Daily Telegraph.
“She said it was ‘absolutely coriander’ and [was] yelling at the GM.”
The chef, a woman “in her 60s”, was reportedly left visibly distressed.
Fellow Labor Councillor and Deputy Mayor Keri Spooner then attempted to “de-escalate” the situation by suggesting she “could always try the prawns”, sparking fury from Cr Masselos, who allegedly could be heard saying “f**k off” before storming out of the room, the witness said.
Cr Masselos did not deny saying “f**k off” at the event but said in a statement, “‘I have suffered from a food allergy as a health issue all my life and cannot eat coriander. The accusations being made against me are politically motivated and is a shameful attempt to use a food allergy as a form of attack.”
Waverley Council, in Sydney’s east, takes in some of the country’s most affluent suburbs, including Bondi, Bronte and Dover Heights.
Cr Masselos was first elected to council in 2012 and served as Mayor from 2019 until October last year, when she was replaced by Liberal Councillor Will Nemesh.
Cr Nemesh has been contacted for comment.
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Originally published as ‘F*** off’: Ex-Mayor allegedly explodes over coriander in council Christmas buffet
