The Break owner Jono Kennedy was allegedly involved in an altercation with a member of the public at Monkey Bar early on Sunday and ejected from the establishment.
He this week posted on Facebook "Eat a d... Monkey Bar.F...... faggots".
"... they are running a bar too big for them with no expirence [sic], just liquidation and aids [sic]." Mr Kennedy last night said he was concussed when he made the comments and removed the post when he later reviewed the site and recovered from his concussion.
Monkey Bar director Benjamin Hanssen said he was "absolutely repulsed by these comments".
"They are revolting things to say. I just think the whole thing is appalling," he said.
His phone had "not stopped ringing" since the comments were made and he was considering legal action, including suing for defamation.
Mr Hanssen said he had not laid a complaint with police but had spoken with the liquor licensing sergeant, questioning whether Mr Kennedy was fit to hold a liquor licence.
Mr Hanssen, who is gay, said he employed both gay and straight staff - whoever was best for the job.
Aged in his 40s, Mr Hanssen took little offence at the "inappropriate" comments, but said younger members of his staff were not as hardened to anti-gay sentiments.
In a written statement last night, Mr Kennedy said the comments were made "early Sunday morning, after being wrongfully assaulted at Monkey Bar which resulted in a concussion, broken nose, chipped tooth and associated lacerations and bruising".
After reviewing the comments later that day, Mr Kennedy said he removed the post and "promptly retracted all comments".
"It was posted after initial anger for being wrongfully assaulted, not hate. I have nothing against homosexuals, many of my good friends and current employees are open about their sexuality, of which two of them were with me the night the incident occurred."
Police and district licensing records would show The Break did not discriminate against any of its patrons, he said.
UniQ Otago vice-president Justin Boswell said last night Mr Kennedy's comments fostered homophobia in Dunedin.
Mr Boswell said Mr Kennedy was a "prominent person within our community" and comments like the ones he made "drive people underground".
"Running an establishment full of people under the influence of alcohol, they must provide an environment that is safe for all their patrons. We do not believe this is truly possible if the owners are being outwardly homophobic," Mr Boswell said.
"Statements like these contribute to a culture where discrimination against a group of people because of their sexuality is deemed acceptable."
- Written by Louise Berwick.
