By LOUISA CLEAVE
Television personality Matthew Ridge was kicked out of a West Coast pub after a verbal exchange with locals.
The former league and rugby star turned up at the Railway Hotel in Greymouth at 2.40am on Sunday with a group of people that included New Zealand Idol finalist Camillia Temple.
Ridge
is in the West Coast hosting a Touchdown Productions show, City Celebrities-Country Nobodies.
A hotel bouncer said Ridge initially joked with locals drinking at the bar but the mood turned ugly when he taunted one man about being fat.
The bouncer said Ridge blew out his cheeks and stuck out his stomach, and made derogatory comments about the man's weight.
Ridge last night said the altercation was sparked by the man confronting him in the bar and making a remark about his partner, Nicky Watson.
The TV star said he suggested the man lose weight and "blew him a kiss" before ordering a drink for a dwarf at the bar.
"The bouncer came up and said 'you can't be abusing the locals' and asked me to leave."
Ridge said he was in the bar a matter of minutes and left without further incident.
The 26-year-old bouncer, who described himself as 193cm tall and 120kg, said he asked Ridge to stop the insults and was concerned for the Aucklander's safety.
"I said 'Matthew, I don't really care who you are or who you think you are. I would rather you calm down and stop giving the locals a hard time'. I was looking out for his safety, being a celebrity in a small town ... and making sure he stayed out of trouble."
The bouncer claimed Ridge then became aggressive towards him.
