An Auckland woman with Tourette's who attended a mayoral debate has spoken out after she was wrongly accused of throwing eggs at a candidate and being on candidate Efeso Collins' side when she ticked.
Naira Charya attended the mayoral debate on Tuesday at the University of Auckland Debating Society when things got heated. Mayoral candidate Ted Johnston was egged after he accused a member of the audience of being "team Efeso".
It all unfolded when Johnston was speaking and members of the audience became unsettled.
"Team Efeso can you please be quiet. At least my friend Leo [Molloy] can fight his own battles, so just calm down," Johnston said.
The audience then went quiet, and at that point, Charya ticked as she had done throughout the debate, to which Johnston pointed at her calling her "team Efeso".
"There ya go, keep it up, team Efeso."
Johnston then attempted to get back on the topic as yelling from the audience ensued following his comment. At that moment a member of the audience threw two eggs.
Charya told Newshub she wasn't offended by Johnston mischaracterising her ticks but is frustrated he didn't admit to his mistake and it took several minutes for him to be convinced to give a "half-arsed" apology.
"Sorry about that, I didn't realise you had Tourette's. I apologise," Johnston said.
Charya said Johnston later backtracked after the debate through media, saying he didn't single her out.
"I just think that when someone humiliates me by singling me out like that, they should just apologise."
Johnston told Newshub he wasn't aware of someone with Tourette's being in the audience and that his comments were aimed at loud audience members, not Charya.
"They were aimed at the several people who had been making comments."
Since the ordeal, Charya said she has received messages online from what appear to be supporters of Johnston, accusing her of throwing the egg.
"I did not throw the egg, nor do I know who did, nor do I condone it."
Charya said people have claimed she faked her disorder in hopes to cause a ruckus.
"I am not a 'team Efeso agent'. My Tourette's isn't politically motivated, I am disabled."
