Are prime ministers fair game for youthful antics or is it assault? Mad Chapman debates Mad Chapman.

On Saturday, prime minister Christopher Luxon attended the very first Auckland FC A-League match at Mt Smart Stadium. There was a strong crowd of 25,000 in attendance for the fresh new team’s first win. But on the sidelines, focus was pulled from the game as a young man asked a wandering Luxon for a photo. As they stood side-by-side, arms around each other, the man pointed to Luxon’s shirt, indicating he’d spilled something there. Luxon looked down, and the man swiped his finger up, flicking Luxon’s nose. A classic prank, executed correctly.

Luxon bristled but attempted a laugh and still posed for the photo. The video, posted by the young prankster, quickly spread on social media. Most responses from viewers were positive, congratulating the man on a well-executed prank. A few suggested it was inappropriate behaviour and shouldn’t be encouraged. 

First of all: lol. Did you see that crack-up video I sent you? Why didn’t you laugh react? I thought you’d love that kind of thing.

So did I, actually, and yet it disturbed me. And the more I think about it, the more disturbed I become.

Sigh, here we go. It’s a funny video of a young lad having some fun with the prime minister. There’s really nothing more to it.

That you think there’s nothing more to it is exactly the problem. I’m all for people having some fun and I am very much of the belief that if you are the prime minister or any politician then you should expect to have memes made about you, but this feels different. This was a public event where a stranger (to the prime minister) touched him without his consent.

OK yes, I wouldn’t recommend poking the nose of a prime minister (or anyone), but isn’t it kind of great that New Zealand is a place where a young man can do this and not be immediately tackled, tased and/or arrested?

Sure it’s nice that New Zealand is “chill” enough for regular punters to have a go at the prime minister, but it’s case-specific. Imagine if Jacinda Ardern, while prime minister, was hit in the face by a member of the public while at an event? There’d be headlines all over The Spinoff about a woman’s right to her space, including a petition to have the man arrested or at least made to publicly apologise. Why is it different because Luxon is a man?

Well, because sadly the world is different if you’re a man. I am not endorsing unwanted physical contact at all, but there is a difference between a young man physically pranking a male prime minister vs a female prime minister – if not in action at least in response. Luxon looked mildly pissed off but not at all afraid or concerned for his wellbeing. The same could not be said for literally any woman at a men’s football match. So yes, I would also be mildly outraged if the same thing happened to a female MP but it didn’t, it happened to Luxon, a man at the footy, and therefore is crack-up.

But that’s such a double standard! If you’re happy with it happening to Luxon then you should be equally happy for it to happen to any female politician.

Sounds like you’re saying someone should flick Nicola Willis in the nose for equality. 

Wait a minute, that’s not what I meant. I don’t want anyone touching anyone else’s face unless it’s a gentle, consented caress. 

OK, on that I guess we agree. But it’s happened now and can’t you admit it’s funny? The young man saw his opportunity and took it.

Look, I’ll admit I laughed involuntarily (mostly out of shock) so I’ll give you that. But we are not making a hero out of that guy. Anyone who has the thought to do that – with a friend nearby filming – is 100% a villain. That’s lame behaviour, even if it’s punching up. And when you listen to the reaction from the crowd, even they didn’t seem to like it. So I’d argue he comes off worse in the video than Luxon.

I think you’re stretching there but damn, you’re right about it being objectively lame behaviour. Guess we really can’t have fun on the internet any more, huh.

You can, it just won’t ever involve a politician, for better or worse.

Fine, no more trying to laugh with or at politicians unless it’s a meme, got it. On a more serious note, is there a name for that prank? “Flicking their nose” really isn’t doing it justice.

At least we can agree on that.