The Guardian “has, over the past two months, spoken to multiple witnesses who attended the party who claim the behavior of the ambassador  was worse than he has admitted.”

“It is understood that two complaints investigated by the US state department against Brown originally came from two female peace corps volunteers who were at the event, and who served food and drink to the guests as a way to flip the cultural norm of Samoans serving westerners.”

“But in addition to these complaints are others that the ambassador’s behavior was ‘shocking,’ ‘culturally insensitive,’ ‘rude’ and ‘undiplomatic.'”

Stuff: U.S. Ambassador behaved “like he was channeling Trump.”

U.S. ambassador to New Zealand Scott Brown has admitted he has been investigated over allegations he made inappropriate comments on his inaugural trip to Samoa, of which he is also the U.S. representative, the Guardian reports.

Brown told reporters that the official complaints related to comments he had made at a party in the Samoan capital, Apia, where he told attendees they looked “beautiful” and could make hundreds of dollars working in the hospitality industry in the U.S. Brown said he had “no idea” the comments would be regarded as offensive.