Rosie Jones was hoping for a fun night out in Soho at one of London’s most famous gay bars but she was shocked when a member of security staff refused her entry after mistaking her for being drunk.
The stand-up comic, who has cerebral palsy, tweeted on Saturday: “It’s a shame that G-A-Y Bar doesn’t know the difference between disabled and drunk.”
She added a direct challenge to nightclub owner Jeremy Joseph, saying, “Thanks for denying me entry @JeremyJoseph.”
It’s a shame that G-A-Y Bar doesn’t know the difference between disabled and drunk. Thanks for denying me entry @JeremyJoseph.
— Rosie Jones (@josierones) March 17, 2018
The tweet was shared more than 500 times.
Twenty minutes later, Rosie added that the ‘security guard’ restrained her when she tried to reach for her walker, adding: “That was nice.”
Ooo my favourite part of the ordeal was when a security guard restrained me when I tried to reach for my walker. That was nice.
— Rosie Jones (@josierones) March 17, 2018
Rosie replied to her outraged supporters on Twitter saying she was “Bloody flabbergasted” and claimed it was the bar’s manager who turned her away, with Mr Joseph’s knowledge: “It was the manager who denied me entry. And @JeremyJoseph, who owns the place, was aware of the situation, and let it happen.”
— Rosie Jones (@josierones) March 17, 2018
Followers were quick to ask if Rosie was okay and organisers of the LGBT+ night, Push the Button were quick to offer her free entry to their next event, saying: “Hey Rosie, if you and some friends would like to come to our party in Vauxhall in a couple of weeks time, let us know and we’ll guest list you x”
They added their voice to concerns surrounding the door policy at G-A-Y, adding: “(We’re not fans of JJ’s problematic door policies either).”
Hey Rosie, if you and some friends would like to come to our party in Vauxhall in a couple of weeks time, let us know and we’ll guest list you x
(We’re not fans of JJ’s problematic door policies either)— Push The Button (@PushTheButton) March 18, 2018
Meanwhile, journalist Hilary Mitchell said she’d faced discrimination at the same venue for “not looking gay enough.”:
Horrible – I’ve failed to get into GAY several times because of “not looking gay enough.” I.e. I was in a frock. This is 6429263917 times worse; I am not surprised it happened but FFS. Shitters. Hope the McDs warms you up xx
— Hilary Mitchell (@Hilary_W) March 18, 2018
Another follower claimed he had once been asked by G-A-Y door staff to kiss a male friend to prove he was gay. Darren Harrington said: “…I was denied entry for not being gay enough and was asked to prove it by snogging a friend I was with (who was a colleague and straight) sorry that happened to you last night.”
Ah gone are the days when I was denied entry for not being gay enough and was asked to prove it by snogging a friend I was with (who was a colleague and straight) sorry that happened to you last night 😕
— Darren Harrington (@DarrenHsaysso) March 18, 2018
A tweeter calling himself @Craigabouttown said he was refused entry to the popular nightspot by staff for being “too old” aged 35.
I’ve been turned away more times than let in to this place over the years. The last time, I was too old. I was 35. This, though, is disgusting. See it through!
— craigabouttown (@craigabouttown) March 18, 2018
This afternoon, Rosie met Jeremy Joseph, who tweeted a full apology for the embarrassing gaffe, saying: “I want to apologise for the way security handled the situation. Procedures weren’t followed. Moving forward, we will be looking into better ways to make sure this never happen again. I’m truly sorry.”
Today I met with @josierones & after Saturday’s incident at G-A-Y, I want to apologise for the way security handled the situation. Procedures weren’t followed. Moving forward, we will be looking into better ways to make sure this never happen again. I’m truly sorry
— Jeremy Joseph G-A-Y (@JeremyJoseph) March 19, 2018
Rosie Jones seems to have been happy with the apology, not going into detail about what explanation was made. She tweeted: “Let’s hope that in the future G-A-Y can be a flagship club for inclusivity.”
Thank you @JeremyJoseph for your apology. Let’s hope that in the future G-A-Y can be a flagship club for inclusivity. https://t.co/jXjYv9lanr
— Rosie Jones (@josierones) March 19, 2018
