Alan Joyce, a fierce advocate for same-sex marriage, was giving a speech to 500 at the time
Alan Joyce, the openly gay Chief Executive Officer of Australian airline Qantas, has been hit with a pie in the face.
The incident occurred yesterday at a business breakfast in Perth, when Joyce was addressing an audience of 500.
The mystery man stormed the stage when Joyce was two minutes into his speech. He returned to the stage unharmed after cleaning his face to a round of applause.
Joyce told the audience at the Hyatt Regency: ‘I don’t know what that was about.’
He continued: ‘Now, if there are any more pies can we get it over with now!’
Joyce had been addressing the audience about Qantas’ new nonstop flights from Perth to London.
He has taken a pro-gay marriage stance in the past. It is not yet known whether the two are connected.
The BBC reports that security detained the man before handing him over to police.
A Western Australia Police spokesman said: ‘We’re currently investigating the incident and interviewing the individual concerned.’
One witness also described it as a ‘bizarre situation.’
Alan Joyce has regularly featured on lists of the world’s most powerful and influential LGBTI business people.
He also often speaks out about the benefits of diversity and inclusion for business.
Furthermore, in March he wrote a opinion piece on the Qantas website supporting gay marriage.
In it, he also discussed whether companies and CEOs should express views on social issues, arguing that they should.
