The Last Dinner Party 'appalled' by security checks on male fans
Photo credit, Getty Images
The Last Dinner Party called off their show in Lincoln at the very last moment, even after their opening acts had already taken the stage.
The Last Dinner Party expressed that they are "shocked and let down" after a venue implemented a security policy that some attendees believe unfairly targeted men, particularly those who came by themselves.
Several attendees reported that they were approached by security personnel at The Engine Shed in Lincoln on Saturday. They were questioned about their presence at the event and whether they genuinely considered themselves fans.
The venue has issued an apology, explaining that the policy was implemented due to reports of "incidents" at a past event. However, they admitted that it led to "unacceptable treatment of some attendees."
The Last Dinner Party canceled their performance at the last minute because one of the band members was feeling unwell.
Kam Zaki, 46, attended the event on Saturday and reported that security approached him and stated that he needed to agree to a search; otherwise, he would have to exit the venue.
In an interview with BBC Newsbeat, he characterized the search as "comprehensive."
"They emptied my pockets, rifled through my wallet, even checked the coin compartment, and searched my shoes," he recalls.
He mentions that he was asked a variety of questions like, "How long have you been a fan of the band? What’s your top song? How many times have you attended their concerts in the past?"
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Kam, a resident of Brighton, made the journey to Lincoln for the concert since it was the only opportunity he had to see the band without needing to take a day off from work.
He expressed that he was extremely angry when the search and questioning wrapped up after about 5 to 10 minutes.
"I understand that they're attempting to establish a secure environment," he remarks. "However, it felt excessive and clearly biased against men who attend alone."
Other supporters on social media shared similar encounters.
One person on X remarked that the questions gave him the impression of being on the quiz show "Mastermind," while another expressed that he felt "unwell" after what he described as an "interrogation."
Image credit: Getty Images
All upcoming performances of The Last Dinner Party in the UK are fully booked.
The Last Dinner Party acknowledged that fans were "rightly" left "feeling uneasy and unappreciated."
"They expressed that everyone is invited and urged to come to our performances."
We are shocked and disheartened that anyone felt differently.
We want to emphasize that those policies were established and implemented by the venue on their own accord, without any input from us.
The band expressed their regret for having to cancel the concert on short notice because of an unexpected illness.
The Engine Shed didn't offer any additional information regarding the incident mentioned in their statement about the last concert. BBC Newsbeat has reached out to them for more details.
The group had earlier performed in Glasgow, Manchester, Newcastle, Leeds, Sheffield, and Norwich. However, representatives from law enforcement in all those locations informed Newsbeat that they had received no complaints associated with any of the concert sites.
The Engine Shed at the University of Lincoln has announced that it will assess all the reports regarding the incident and has invited anyone who experienced discrimination to reach out.
A representative for the venue explained in a statement that their entry policy ensures everyone attending is treated fairly and faces the same requirements for admission.
They reported that an "immediate initial inquiry" was conducted on Sunday, indicating that the door policy had been altered on an "as-needed" basis.
"Even though the policy was revised with good intentions, it unfortunately led to the improper treatment of certain guests. The Engine Shed sincerely apologizes for this."
The Last Dinner Party stated that they were not notified about the alterations to the door policy. They expressed that these changes do not align with their values and would not have been put into effect if they had received prior notice.
They appreciated the venue's apology and the effort to look into the matter, along with plans for additional training for staff to prevent this from happening in the future.
The Last Dinner Party, the band that topped BBC Radio 1's Sound of 2024 list, unexpectedly canceled their concert in Lincoln just as their opening acts finished performing.
They were forced to cancel their performance in Cardiff on Sunday.
Kam mentioned that regardless of whether the Lincoln event gets postponed, he will request a refund due to his experience.
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