X Factor judge Willy Moon hissed C-word at woman in crowded bakery

Willy Moon with fellow X Factor judge Natalia Kills. TV3 has apologised for Moon's abusive behaviour. Photo / Norrie Montgomery

X Factor NZ judge Willy Moon swore at a woman in a crowded bakery in Auckland after she nosed into a carpark ahead of him.

Tracey Neal-Gailer, 51, says the singer had towered over her angrily and abused her in front of customers, some of them children, on Tuesday.

In a letter to Moon, the mother of two from Glenfield said: "I am the one at the bakery this morning that you called [actually hissing!] the 'C' word in front of a shop full of bakery customers and staff.

READ THE FULL LETTER BELOW

"This was after a small incident where you were delayed by a matter of seconds after I went in front of you into the bakery carpark. This incident seemed to enrage you to the point of getting out of your car, shaking your finger at me and shouting."

In a statement to the Herald last night, TV3, which airs The X Factor, said Moon regretted his actions. "Willy regrets the incident took place and he will also be more thoughtful in his choice of language in future."

It is the second forced apology from TV3 involving the X Factor. Last month it was at the centre of a media storm for minimising the role one its contestants, Shae Brider, played in the manslaughter of a teenager in 2004. TV3 has also come under fire for over revelations one of the contestants on its show The Bachelor was sentenced to 18 months' jail for stealing almost $40,000 from her employer.

Ms Neal-Gailer suggested that Moon brush up on the latest road rules and consider anger management therapy.

Image 1 of 13: The judges have made their decision click next to see your X Factor New Zealand Top 12 finalists. Photo / Supplied

She said she was turning left into the bakery's carpark in New Bond St, as Moon tried to turn right from the opposite direction. That meant she had the right of way and cars were waiting behind her in busy New North Rd.

She acknowledged that Moon would have been overseas when the rule was changed three years ago.

Tracey Neal-Gailer's letter to WIlly Moon

Dear Willy Moon,

You may or may not remember me because I honestly don't know how many people you verbally abuse in any given day. I am the one at the bakery this morning that you called (actually hissing!) the 'C' word in front of a shop full of bakery customers and staff. This was after a small incident where you were delayed by a matter of seconds after I went in front of you into the bakery carpark (turning off a busy main road, having cars behind me and, actually, the legal right of way as I was turning left and you were turning right).

This incident seemed to enrage you to the point of getting out of your car, shaking your finger at me and shouting. I thought at the time that perhaps you were upset that I might be taking the last carpark, but no, there were several empty spaces available. After being 'told off' by you in the carpark, we both proceeded to transact our bakery purchases.
It was upon leaving that you thought it incumbent upon yourself to remind me of my transgression by using that particular word.

Given your current public profile, I am surprised that you thought that you were entitled to use language like that at any time, let alone in front of a shop full of people, at least half of whom recognised you. The two young Asian girls next to you, who had been whispering about you in a look-who-it-is-golly-a-celebrity kind of way, looked shocked and the lady behind the counter asked if I was alright. I was a bit shaken up but thanks for asking.

Can I suggest a short brush-up course on the current road rules and perhaps some anger management therapy? The groups that you are supposedly 'mentoring' are very likely to annoy you at some point and we wouldn't want any embarrassing, misogynist and potentially actionable, outbursts caught on camera, would we?

Kind regards,

The woman you called a C*** this morning at 9.15 at the Bakers Cottage in Kingsland (in case there are any other women you have called this today).