DSTRKT, a popular London nightclub frequented by American celebs like Drake,
Rihanna, and
Jay-Z, is under fire today after four women claim they were denied entry because of their race.
According to Zalika Miller, an actress and presenter, she and her friends weren’t allowed into the club because they were deemed “too dark” and “too fat.”
“Prior to us actually getting to the club, the [promoter] wanted pictures of the girls that my friend was going to bring,” Miller told London’s Black newspaper The Voice. “He basically said, if she was going to bring Black girls then they’ve got to be of ‘a certain caliber. She sent him pictures of me and another girl that was coming and I guess he gave his approval.”
Apparently, their pre-approval didn’t mean anything in the end. When the group got to the West London club they were told they couldn’t get in.
Miller’s friend, Lin Mei, who was in contact with the club promoter, explained what happened.
“Once at the front of queue, the lady at the door asked us whose list we were on,” she explained via email.
The hostess then disappeared into the club, but returned minutes later to say the venue was full. Mei called her friend Daniel, who told the group to wait for his arrival so he could get them in.
“Daniel then called me and stated Ugo Allessio (the manager) needed to see all girls,” she explained.
Allessio requested the women line up against a wall across the street so he could size them up via closed circuit TV.
“When I told the girls they were disgusted,” Mei said.
Minutes later, Daniel met the women outside and told them they wouldn’t be allowed into DSTRKT.
“Daniel came over to me and stated it’s because the girls are too dark,” Mei explained via email.
Daniel, Mei said, was confused because he felt all of the women were attractive, but the manager of the club wouldn’t budge.
Faced with this upsetting info, Mei went to speak with Allessio to see why the group was being turned away. According to Mei, Allessio said she could come in because (she’s biracial), but her friends could not.
Mei shared screenshots of her text conversation on Twitter.
(before Saturday night…)
(After they were barred from the club)
After Miller, Mei, and their friends shared their ordeal on social media, they began to hear from other Londoners that they’ve also been discriminated against at DSTRKT, as well as other clubs.
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why wont the white boys be nice to me
