Chuang's image tarnished after affair

Auckland Mayor Len Brown's former mistress says her image has been tarnished and it will be hard to come back from being the "other woman".

In her first television interview since news of the affair broke last month, Bevan Chuang told TVNZ's Sunday programme about the fallout from the relationship.

"It's quite damaging, of course, with what people, of the image that people have about me. But as a friend of mine said at the very beginning, when you are being portrayed as the other woman, it's always harder to come back," she said.

"And it has been terribly public."

Ms Chuang said it was a "story of at least five men and a woman. And none of them came to my rescue when I needed them ... and all of them wanted something."

She said she had apologised to Mr Brown and his family.

"I know it's extremely difficult for the daughters. I mean, again, I come in a family where my father himself is a womaniser. And I understand how difficult it is for the children to get through it, and it's even harder when it's such a public affair.


"This is not naivety. This is foolishness. This is just stupid for me to actually [have] said what I said and have caused a lot of harm for the family."

Ms Chuang considered Mr Brown's family when she chose not to attend his swearing in as mayor last month.

"I don't think it's fair to cause that media frenzy, and it is his moment for him to be onstage and be the mayor and deliver that. I don't think it's fair.

"But also, of course, you know, I just don't really want to create the chaos, and ... it will be very difficult if I run into his family."

nzherald.