Montreal's Muzique Nightclub Posts 'NO FAT GIRLS ALLOWED' Invite On Facebook

Muzique nightclub in Montreal is feeling the heat after posting an invitation on its Facebook page that included the message "NO FAT GIRLS ALLOWED!!!!!!!!!!" the Montreal Gazette reports. The invite, for the birthday party of one of the club's partners, was posted last week but deleted over the weekend--after the fete had taken place.

"We didn't even realize (the comment) was there until a couple of days ago, and it was too late to retract it because the event had already happened," Muzique's communication and marketing staffer John Jay told the Gazette, adding, "It was taken down as soon as we found out about it...It was someone thinking he was funny." Jay is even considering posting an apology.

But it seems Muzique prides itself on its elite clientele. From the club's website:

Opening its doors in the fall of 2009 Muzique has redefined velvet rope exclusivity, positioning itself as the flagship for all things fabulous in Montreal's high-end party scene.

Attracting a bevy of models, actors and young financiers every weekend to experience Montreal's most extravagant and exclusive events for the mature and distinguished. The awe-inspiring interior is the perfect backdrop to truly experience the city's sense of late-night joie de vivre.

Stefano Apostolakos, a Montreal club promoter, told the Gazette: "Everybody knows. (Clubs) are selective," and "(Discrimination) comes with the right to refuse entrance." He remarked, "They'll never tell you you can't come in because of your looks. But at the end of the day, that's what it comes down to, usually. It's the sad truth."

Salon's Tracy Clark-Flory also sees the sad truth, writing that she was outraged about the entire situation until her friend and "co-author of 'Lessons from the Fat-o-sphere,'" Kate Harding wrote in an e-mail:

Frankly, I find it refreshing to see a 'no fatties' policy made explicit -- at least now no fat girl will ever have to deal with well-meaning friends trying to convince her she's being ridiculous and oversensitive when she says she can tell she's not wanted at that club. Lots of private businesses discriminate based on looks -- and in many cases that's their right -- so at least if they're open about it, nobody has to participate in the fiction that they treat everyone equally.

(Via Jezebel)

Comments

[Al Nava]

04:36 PM on 10/12/2010

Don't discriminate, just charge fatties double the price or let the hotties in for free. Everyone wins! LoL

[Tresco]

04:47 PM on 08/27/2010

Could you get any more shallow? Whatever. Looks like a good place to avoid.

[gypsy214]

11:38 PM on 08/21/2010

Kate Harding does have a point. Clubs like that, with the "velvet rope" entrance, are already discriminating against people based on their looks. If I was overweight, I'd rather know up front that a club wouldn't let me in, rather than show up and have them tap-dancing around why I can't get in. But it's still unfair discrimination.

[Connie Markley Boppre]

11:05 AM on 08/17/2010

so narrow-minded...their loss :-)

[Gus Anderson]

05:27 PM on 08/16/2010

This is terrible in a funny sort of tragic way. Fat people take up more space than thin people. Airlines have discovered this.
A club charges per person as a way to make money to pay the bills. So do you charge 10 bucks to five Size 5 girls making you 50 bucks or 10 bucks to one Size 25 girl making you 10 bucks?
It is part economics and part vibe for the club. They want to create a certain feeling inside the club, which is why they have dresscodes. Dresscodes which discriminate against the poor and certain ethnic groups that have their own sub-culture of styles.
People don't scream about those discriminations. Body size is just the next image to work its way on to the banned list.
Is it fair or right? NO. Now demand the *suit and tie* requirement at the fancy bistro be done away with as well......because it is the same thing. It keeps certain types of people away from the place.

[Ms Pillowz]

12:05 PM on 08/16/2010

I had a similar incident with a party promoter who called his patrons "whales" on his Facebook status. Not only did I put a status on my pages that I wouldn't support his events, I wrote a post about it on my blog, Big Diva Headquarters. It is my most viewed post to date! The Whales Are Out Tonight can be viewed here: http://bigdivahq.com/personal-development/the-whales-are-out-tonight-no-shade/

I agree with Kate Harding. At least it is out there. If we, as "fat people", don't like their sizist policy, we can take our money and spend it somewhere else. Our money is power, people!

Ms. Pillowz
BigDivaHq.com

[Cynthia Lawlis]

11:18 AM on 08/16/2010

Why don't they just advertise "No customers allowed" - Now, they claim it was a joke and that they didn't know it was on there page until after the event: Yeah, right.... Any 'thinking' individuals could and should very simply stop frequenting that club. It sends a clear message when a large number of people discontinue patronage of any business. I'm certain that there are other clubs in Montreal and when it comes down to brass tacks, the notion of exclusivity is a foolish illusion: our mortality makes us all equal.

[Cynthia Lawlis]

11:21 AM on 08/16/2010

Correction - typo "There" when I meant to write that "...they didn't know it was on THEIR page until after the event..."

[Jodi Cecil]

09:35 AM on 08/16/2010

I have to say this is ridiculous. I am not overweight, but I do feel bad for those who are. If your nightclub is doing bad, it is not because of the overweight people it is because you are doing something else there that is not doing the business. I lived in NY for 10 years, I am from a Southern state and I have to say when I visited NJ, I didn't stay long. Very unfriendly state. Those girls who are overweight don't worry about it, the place was probably not worth it. If the place is still open, visit "Tuxedo Junction" in Connecticut. It's a decent place and I loved it. There are lots of people who taste like sour grapes these days. I just think being a live and not be to critical of others is a reward in life...leave them alone and keep your mouth shut, this is to the owners of the club...not away to drum up a business, now you made it worse by getting on the news. People are not going to tolerate discrimination.

[jstj]

10:31 PM on 08/15/2010

I've been saying this for years - As long as you look good, it doesn't matter what you use to cope.

[unimatrix0]

07:17 PM on 08/15/2010

That's one of the most horrible things I have read in a while, and although it would also be wrong, I would at least feel better if they said no fat guys either. Why is it that heavy guys see heavy women as less desirable, but don't feel a need to apply the same standards to themselves.
Even TV shows do this. A heavy guy and skinny wife, but never a skinny guy and heavy wife.

[Tails]

08:05 PM on 08/15/2010

Projection.

[Eric McCoy]

05:38 PM on 08/21/2010

I am constantly seeing skinny guys with big women!!

[Lisa Shields]

05:51 PM on 08/15/2010

I might be more impressed by a "no Jerk Weed Policy"...but apparently being a Jerk is all part of the "exclusive bit".

[up420oz]

02:13 PM on 08/15/2010

club d bag, in need of a wrecking ball.

[Joe The Nerd Ferraro]

09:03 AM on 08/15/2010

I guess that sign directly translates to:

"No Cool Guys To Be Found Here"

[Jason Tull]

05:16 AM on 08/15/2010

Already posted this but it was ignored, there's a second interview about this issue

New Video interview from the Montreal Gazette (original source of the Muzique "No Fat Girls Allowed" story)

http://www.montrealgazette.com/videos/index.html?v=1566523743

New article in the Montreal Gazette (original source of the Muzique "No Fat Girls Allowed" story)

http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/girls+joke+blown+proportion+Muzique+Montreal/3400182/story.html

[Califishing]

02:33 AM on 08/15/2010

Some men like Big Girls. Clubs never change it's just the people. As one generation leaves another is coming in right behind them. "Buffalo Girls Go Round The outside." Cover charge plus drinks..It never changes