**UPDATE: DSTRKT has released a statement on
which attests they 'condemn any type of racism or discrimination by customers or staff.' They also explained that they have nothing to do with what promoters say, and that they did not let the group of women in because the club was only taking pre-bookings. 'The only people who were allowed entry after the women arrived were allowed in because they had booked in advance.' They also dug up images of two of the party at DSTRKT on previous nights in order to prove that they have previously let them in. To finish it off, they tagged in just about every news outlet going - as well as The Weeknd, Fetty Wap and Rihanna, just in case any of them intend to say something about the situation.**
‘No hoods, no hats, no trainers’ is the sort of door policy to be expected from certain ‘swanky’ central London clubs. But there’s another implicit door policy at these high-gloss venues, as it’s been alleged that DSTRKT, a club you’ll see the likes of Drake, Rihanna, Lewis Hamilton and Jay-Z visiting when they’re in town, refused a group of women entry because some of their party were ‘too dark’ and ‘too fat’.
On Saturday, four women turned up to the club shortly after 10pm, but were told they couldn’t come in because the club was full. Extra embarrassing – and strange – then, that the women – all women of colour – then saw other people get into the club with no problem.
One of the women refused entry, Zalika Miller, 26, told The Voice: ‘Prior to us actually getting to the club, the [promoter] wanted pictures of the girls that my friend was going to bring,’
‘He basically said, if she was going to bring black girls then they’ve got to be of “a certain calibre”. She sent him pictures of me and another girl that was coming and I guess he gave his approval.’
But, on the night, after being told the club was empty yet seeing other women toddle in: ‘The promoter went to the door girl and asked why she wasn’t letting us in and she just said, ‘I don’t think they’re good looking enough”’
When pressed further, the promoter allegedly said the girls were ‘too dark’ and ‘overweight’, according to Zalika.
To fight back against a policy that supposedly sees skinny light-skinned women prioritised over larger, dark-skinned women, the friends started a hashtag: #DoILookDstrkt and protested outside DSTRKT where Chris Brown’s ex Karrueche Tran did a live PA.
As well as the protest, there are some interesting points being made about race and clubbing:
Karrueche Tran has responded to the protest, telling the BBC: ‘It's unfortunate to hear about something like that especially something that I'm part of.
‘I'm half African-American too. I have godsisters and family who have darker skin as well. I don't support any sort of discrimination. I love people for who they are.’
DSTRKT has yet to comment.
Follow Sophie on Twitter @sophwilkinson
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.