Nadia Lim 'Eurasian fluff' controversy: Simon Henry apologises for 'inappropriate language'

Name: Focus Live: Ardern responds to Simon Henry's comments about Nadia Lim
Uploaded: 2022-05-06T13:56:11+12:00
Description: PM Jacinda Ardern was asked how she felt about the derogatory comments businessman Simon Henry made about Nadia Lim. Video / NZ Herald

NZ Herald

10 May, 2022 09:31 PM2 mins to read

NOW PLAYING • Focus Live: Ardern responds to Simon Henry's comments about Nadia Lim

PM Jacinda Ardern was asked how she felt about the derogatory comments businessman Simon Henry made about Nadia Lim. Video / NZ Herald ...

Rich-lister Simon Henry has apologised to Nadia Lim for calling her "Eurasian fluff", acknowledging that he used "inappropriate language".

Lim confirmed today that she received the emailed apology last night - "six days after the crises erupted".

"It was accompanied by an offer for Nadia to call him which will not be acted on," Lim's spokeswoman Deborah Pead said.

While Henry had claimed to have called the celebrity chef several times "Nadia's phone records will confirm she neither received nor missed a call from him".

"In my opinion his acknowledgement adds further insult to injury and one has to wonder why he even bothered," Pead said.

Henry's employer DGL Group had said it had been sent on Friday.

Simon Henry's apology is dated May 6 but Nadia Lim only received it last night.

The post suggested Henry had tried "several times" to call Lim. He offered a "sincere and formal" apology for his "inappropriate language".

The apology was emailed from DGL's office manager.

Celebrity chef and MasterChef NZ judge Nadia Lim has tested positive for Covid. Photo / Doug Sherring

Last month, Henry - founder and chief executive of a chemicals company - criticised My Food Bag for including a photo of Lim in their prospectus.

He referred to Lim as "Eurasian fluff" and that her photo was the reason for the company's underperforming results.

"When you've got Nadia Lim, when you've got a little bit of Eurasian fluff in the middle of your prospectus with a blouse unbuttoned showing some cleavage, and that's what it takes to sell your scrip, then you know you're in trouble," Henry said.

Meanwhile Lim is in isolation after testing positive for Covid-19.

The 36-year-old revealed via Facebook and Instagram she has the virus.

"I have Covid right now and [chef Vaughan Mabee] drops off a home-made pie for us," she wrote online.

Lim shared a short video clip showing off the creation by fellow MasterChef NZ judge Mabee, of central Otago's Amisfield Restaurant, in an Amisfield box.

A second post shows her two sons in bed and a shout-out to her other fellow MasterChef judge - Michael Dearth - for sending them his children's favourite storybooks from when they were young, she says.

It is not known, however, whether Lim's children or husband have tested positive for Covid too.