Jacinda Ardern FINALLY explains herself after barging sign language interpreter ...

Jacinda Ardern FINALLY explains herself after barging sign language interpreter ...
Jacinda Ardern FINALLY explains herself after barging sign language interpreter ...

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has explained away the viral moment she appeared to barge a sign language interpreter out of the way at a Covid press conference. 

On her way into the parliament on Tuesday Ms Ardern told reporters her action - where she appeared to push the interpreter out of the way as she stepped away from the podium - was not intentional.

'She was to my left and I was trying to not get in the way of my colleagues and cross over them and maintain social distance,' she explained.

'But of course, in doing so, I cut her off - not intentionally, as you can imagine, and I apologised to her at the time.'

Video of the moment went viral after it was reported by Daily Mail Australia, with many people noting the apparently unimpressed reaction of the interpreter. 

'This was innocent and the sign ladies face is hilarious,' one person commented online. 

'Love the look she gives to Jacinda when she moves back in front the camera,' added another.

But in a Tweet, Deaf Aotearoa CEO Lachlan Keating said the interpreter 'wasn't unhappy'.

Broadcaster Jeanne Moss of CNN had described the scene as Ardern 'bigfooting her interpreter off the screen', though also recognised that Ms Ardern later offered 'an apologetic smile'.  

Jacinda Ardern stepping in front of the sign language interpreter at the country's Covid press conference on the weekend (pictured)

Jacinda Ardern stepping in front of the sign language interpreter at the country's Covid press conference on the weekend (pictured) 

The uncomfortable moment shared to TikTok showed Ms Ardern stepping away from the microphone and directly into the interpreter. 

Ms Ardern, 41, then stepped back again, forcing the interpreter out of frame completely before the woman walks around her and back in front of TV crews - giving the nation's leader a priceless look before she continues signing for the hearing impaired. 

Social media reaction to the incident was both for and against Ms Ardern's apparent intentions. 

'What a bully! Wolf in sheep's clothing,' one person said. 

'So disrespectful. I used to think she was cool but far from it now,' added another.

However, others were quick to point out the interaction wasn't intentional. 

'She was just moving out of the way for the other speaker to come on, she even smiled at her afterwards.'  

Ms Ardern on Saturday

Some commented on the expression the interpreter had

Many people commenting said the expression on the sign language interpreters face was hilarious. Ms Ardern apologised after the incident (pictured) 

Video from the longer media conference shows Ms Ardern very quickly registered that she had pushed the woman out of the way and smiles and nods at her in apology. 

Ms Ardern's press conferences have been notable in recent days not only for the subject material.

A day earlier her media address

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