Red Symons Humiliates Waxing Salon Staff

[icyfroth]

A Melbourne waxing salon owner is demanding an apology from ABC breakfast radio host Red Symons after she said he humiliated and mocked her staff and clients.

The owner of Brazilica in Smith Street, Collingwood, said the former Skyhooks lead guitarist stopped as he was walking down the bustling street just after 6.30pm on Wednesday and began firing inappropriate questions at the women working and waiting at the salon.

Georgia, who did not want her surname published, said Symons asked about what kinds of treatments they had done, how they dealt with giving men Brazilian waxes, and if any of them had "landing strips" left by waxes.

She said her staff had been shocked and did not know how to handle the situation until a client emerged from one of the rooms and asked Symons to leave because he was making everyone uncomfortable

The staff felt really angry afterwards because they didn't know what they should say. They've been trained to be nice to everyone," she said. "One of them thought maybe he had a hidden camera and she didn't want to be part of a set-up joke if she responded."

Georgia said one client receiving an eyebrow treatment had cut short her visit.

Georgia said she enjoyed working on the colourful shopping and entertainment strip but felt Symons behaviour had gone too far. "Why does a 50-year-plus man in a respected media job think he can come and pick on young girls and make sexist comments?" she asked.

"Why does he feel it's OK to humiliate and embarrass young girls in their workplace and heckle female clients about their choice of grooming?"

She said a client told the staff that Symons had been walking down the street taking chips from dining plates being delivered by waiters. She hoped he had been intoxicated and his judgment impaired.

Symons told Fairfax Media that if the owner wanted an apology he would speak to her about it, not to the media. Asked whether he had visited the salon he said he would "let her tell her story" and did not wish to discuss it.

Georgia said she did not feel it was much of a response. "It's the least he can do. I don't know why he can't publicly apologise if he can publicly humiliate them," she said.

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Poor old Red, he must be missing his old Red Faces days.

[imastawka]

I liked him on red faces too.  But do you really think the salon

wants this kind of publicity.   If they can't keep the doors locked

in Collingwood there's something wrong.  Gotta keep the weirdos out

[i-need-a-martini]

Another one of those stories where it sounds iffy.

If everyone is so 'humiliated' how is it that it takes a customer in the middle of her treatment to leave her treatment room in order to tell him to go away? 

Personally I like Red Symons. His on screen persona is nothing like real life and this showed up in the Australian Stories episode which looked at how he and his wife coped with his son who had cancer. 

[nevillesdaughter]

He might be cr*p at radio interviews, but I think it's more because he made a career out of being a smart*rse, not because he's out of his depth with learned/acamic people.

He has a science degree (pure maths and computer science) so he's no dill, and when speaking about something important or close to hime, is very articulate and intelligent.

So much of our entertainment is dumbed down for the masses, and when these people are more rewarded for being "funny" than smart, this is what we get.

Just my opinion,

Marina.

[icyfroth]

He must be going through a mid-life crisis, then,  or as Am said, maybe had to much "Christmas Cheer".

[icyfroth]

---

@am*3 wrote:

There were members of the PUBLIC in the salon getting their treatment, Am,so I think a PUBLIC Apology would not be uncalled for.

What would that entail, Red going on TV and making a public apology, Red taking out a 1/2 page ad in the city newspaper ?

Who would pay for that ($1000's)??????????? Overeaction to want a 'public' apology', yes.

The customers in the salon were clientele of the salon. They could blame their discomfort on the salon owners/managers for letting nutters in off the street.

People outside on the street going about their business are the public.

---

"What would that entail, Red going on TV and making a public apology, Red taking out a 1/2 page ad in the city newspaper ?"

I think he should stand in front of Flinders Street Railway Station in Peak Hour with a megaphone and say at regular intervals: "I am a Numbnuts and a Tool and sincerely apologise to management, staff and clientele of Brazilica Waxing Salon for any embarrassment and suffering I have caused them, and to those whose chips I stole off their plates in the cafe I passed on the way I apologise also".

No need to spend large amounts of money for TV or newspaper ads.

[twinkles**stars]

The story sounds very suss to me.

Been some time since I went down Smith Street but since when does it have footpath dining?

[debra9275]

I think some cafe's do Twinks, but it's pretty squashy, there's very little space on the footpaths.

Going against the grain here, I like him, Yes, he's weird and quirky and eccentric but i do like him

Did anyone see  Australian Story about his son??

http://www.abc.net.au/austory/specials/storysamuel/default.htm

it shows him in a different light to what we're used to seeing

[twinkles**stars]

No I didn't see the story but I do know his eldest suffered dreading from brain tumors and his beliefs. He is a strong man. Dry sense of humour but I like him

[debra9275]

we must be the odd ones out in liking him here Twnks

but IMO if we didn't have quirky eccentric people in the world , we wouldn't have great talents like Sky Hooks either. Some just dare to be different

I don't know what's become of his son, I hope all is well for them

[icyfroth]

It's not the fact that anyone "dislikes" him, just that it was an erratic and cringe-worthy thing to do (even for him) and can only be put down to a mid-life crisis, or too much "beverage" or maybe a dare or a prank. Publicity stunt, maybe.