A young cheerleader has claimed her birthday was “completely ruined” because she and her friends were turned away from a London club for being too fat.
Bobbi Jo Goldsmith, who celebrated her 20th birthday last Friday, had booked a table at Libertine London with nine friends.
But Goldsmith, who is a size 10, says that while queueing to get into the club, they were asked to leave by staff because they were “too big”.
“I was just totally embarrassed,” Goldsmith told Mirror Online.
“They just looked us up and down and told us that we were too big...I want to highlight this – it shouldn’t be happening in 2016. It’s horrible”.
Goldsmith’s story came to light after her mother Deborah Kerr wrote a post on Facebook.
The post has since been shared almost 5,000 times and has caused a huge outcry.
“I can’t believe I just read that?!!!! Your daughter is beautiful and glamorous!! And even if she wasn’t, that is just disgraceful to shame young women in that way! Disgusting representation from that club! Xx”, one Facebook user commented.
Another replied: “This makes me so angry! She’s absolutely stunning! Wish I looked like her.... What image are this club looking for?! Totally disrespectful... Hope they’re boycotted!”
Deborah told the Mirror that the incident left her daughter feeling “embarrassed and humiliated”.
“She’s only a size 10. She’s a cheerleader. I don’t understand why they didn’t get in.”
But Libertine London said that the dress sizes of Goldsmith and her friends had nothing to do with why they were turned away from the club, claiming that over 100 people were denied entry that night.
In a statement a spokesperson said: “We would like to make it clear that, any assumptions or comments concerning the reason for not granting entry, certainly did not come from anyone employed or connected to us and are in no way reflective of our actual door policy.
“The club is nearly always over-subscribed and turning people away is commonplace for us and every other venue.
“On that particular night we had over 500 people through the doors and turned away 119 potential customers.
“Potential customers are given priority based on who they booked with. Members and house guestlist coming first, followed by the in house PR team and then freelance promotional companies and their sub-promoters.
“On any given night our club is filled with a diverse and inclusive group of people, which is something we pride ourselves upon. We would never reject anyone based upon their dress size or physical appearance.”