HAVANA Club owner Martin Sayers has publicly apologised to all the ‘large ladies’ he refused to let through his doors for being too fat.
For the first time he has revealed what drove him to set the controversial policy of banning overweight women last Saturday night. Full of remorse and deep regret, he said his judgment had been clouded with emotion after losing some of his relatives and friends to obesity-related problems.
Following an international media frenzy, Mr Sayers held an emergency press conference inside the club yesterday to say he was sorry for banning overweight women in his nightclub.
‘I reacted improperly to complaints made at the club and I deeply regret doing so,’ he said. ‘I accept that what was done was very wrong and I am deeply remorseful. It will never be repeated. Everyone is welcome in the Havana Club.’
Article posted on 31st July, 2008 - 2.59pm
14 Article Comments
At least he has said sorry internationaly now and has learn a lesson, but unfortunatly a lot of people wont forget that easy and he may well lose a few customers over this. This has raised a debate now about how far a business person can discriminate before it goes to far. A lot of readers voiced their support for him but what if he discriminated against super slim girls who look sick? Would you have not also agreed with him? How about banning gay people or YOU! Business people should learn to keep in the background and let thier business run with the flow and not get involved in ethics.
H.Samual in the UK lost there business because of a one liner.
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Mr Sayers obviously had to think long & hard to come up this pretty weak excuse after all the bad publicity his club has got. I would have thought the island has had enough bad press already this year. Lucky for him the island doesn’t have better discrimination laws.
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Unbelievable!! I hope Martin Sayers is going to be prosecuted for discrimination!
What a very poor excuse he made for banning larger ladies from his club,wht about the larger men??? or don’t they have obesity problems???
Believe it or not a lot of overweight people are healthy and happy!!!
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In reply to Christine (19) how does she know the ‘people that go to these places’ don’t know anything about politics. It’s not just politics, how would you feel if your child was refused from sports because he wore glasses. Don’t say most overweight people can control their weight..it’s an addiction like alcohol and drugs!.A lot of overweight people are healthier and have a lower percentage of death than anorexics and bulimics!
It wasn’t just overweight,martin sayers was banning…it was overweight ladies!!
The reason they’re protesting in the royal square is because it’s something they feel strongly about.
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The club/owner can not be prosecuted because NO law has been broken.
I read in the paper that police were taking statements, I hope that they did not waste much time on this matter.
To recap, the club has the right to refuse entry.
Many people are afraid to speak what they think nowadays, but sometimes the truth hurts, fat is unattractive.
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Has anyone given thought to the fact that Mr Sayers has probably achieved his aim after all?
I doubt very much that there will be any of Jersey’s “larger ladies” frequenting his club for a good while to come because of the offense that he caused – job done!
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i am a little overweight and often go to the havana club. i have never been refused entry for my size maybe its because i dress elegantly and wear appropiate clothing.
In the end, the way we present ourselves gives off an impression of how a person may behave in certain establishments.
There is a difference between a ladette and a lady, as ladies are graceful and ladettes are, quite frankly tramps.
This is political correctness gone mad, when can we criticise someone constructively without being accused of discrimination, as he may have been hinting that their weight currently is a health hazard.
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Here we go again… the oppressed minority… blah blah blah! Ok so these larger ladies feel that they’ve been discriminated against… well that’s life, discrimination is an unfortunate side effect of modern society and without it we’d lose the benefit of a great source of debate, but let’s not let it get out of hand, there are other far more important issues in life to which we can direct our energy and single minded opinions. GET OVER IT… move on!
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I guess Jersey is THE only place with freedom of speech right or wrong…..
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ONE THING IN ALL THIS FUSS ABOUT FAT WOMEN IN (SORRY OUT)OF THE HAVANA CLUB THAT HAS NOT BEEN CONSIDERED IS THE HEALTH AND SAFETY ASPECT, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THERE WAS A FIRE AND EVERYONE WAS RUSHING TO GET OUT AS FAST AS THEY CAN, NEED I SAY MORE?
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I’m a Jersey girl living in New Zealand & this story made it all the way over here, my husband worked the doors in Madisons & Thackerys in the 80’s & people of a certain age will remember that they were 2 of the most exclusive clubs in the UK at the time & he could not believe what you said to those girls.Mr Sayers. you have damaged Jersey’s reputation all over the world.
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Even though there are no laws in Jersey what the Manager did was still wrong in my opinion but he has publicly apologised. This has been shown by the comments on all the blogs that bullying is not just in the schools but also in society in Jersey. But remember that the only reason why people bully other people is that they are unsecure in the way they feel and they dont want the attention turned to them.
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I think these people protesting has “damaged Jersey’s reputation” it makes us look like a bunch of pathetic moaners. Martin wasnt right to say what he did, but people get slagged off in life all the time you just get one with it. He does however have every right to deny anyone he likes.
This is really boring now.
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I think the club owner was well within his right to turn away anyone he wanted, for whatever reason – fair or otherwise as it’s private property and clubs always state R.O.A.R. – rights of admission reserved… However, if it had been a public venue, then yes, by all means get on your high horses. But at least the ladies involved can change their size, if they so wishe. Other people who are regularly discriminated against would be unable to change that feature of themselves.
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