The Sydney venue that turned away US pop star Pink earlier this week claimed the singer was not denied entry but “chose to leave”.
The singer, 44, and a large entourage were turned away at the door of the Manly 16ft Skiff Sailing Club on Monday night because she had not brought any identification.
The So What singer had reportedly made a booking and paid a 50% deposit to secure the booking, before witnesses said she was “kicked out” due to the club’s rules on identification.
However, in a statement issued on Thursday, the club denied that the pop star’s abrupt exclusion was due to a bureaucratic technicality.
‘It is important to clarify that Pink was not “expelled”; “She decided to leave after encountering the issue with the registration process,” club managing secretary Matt Hazell said.
A Sydney venue that turned Pink away on Monday claimed the singer “decided to leave”. The singer, 44, and her entourage were turned away from the Manly 16ft Skiff Sailing Club because she had not brought any identification. Pictured with children Willow (left) and Jameson (right)
In a statement, the club denied that the pop star’s exclusion was due to a bureaucratic technicality. ‘It is important to clarify that Pink was not “expelled”; “She decided to leave after encountering the issue with the registration process,” club managing secretary Matt Hazell said.
The statement continues: “As a 100-year-old yacht club, we have policies in place to ensure all customers are registered correctly.”
‘However, there was a misunderstanding and we regret any embarrassment or frustration caused. “We appreciate (Pink’s) kindness and look forward to welcoming her soon.”
However, witness Mark Eymes told A Current Affair on Thursday night that Pink was told she “has to have her own ID” in order to enter the club.
When an employee asked her if she could provide identification, she said, “No, no, I don’t have identification.” She said, “I have this reservation, I’ve paid a 50 percent deposit,” Eymes said.
He revealed that he attempted to present his own membership card in an attempt to get Pink into the venue, but claimed that staff were not changing the identification rule.
He continued: ‘I heard what was happening, so I jumped over to their row, grabbed my membership card and started waving it. I told him “look, I’ll sign them, here’s my card and let’s go.” They just immediately said, “no, she has to have her own ID.”
After being turned away at the Skiff Club, Pink and his team made the short trip down Manly’s East Esplanade to 4 Pines Brewing.
After being turned away at the Skiff Club, Pink and his team made the short trip down Manly’s East Esplanade to 4 Pines Brewing.
It comes as many Australians took to social media to express their displeasure with the rules.
“Sydney is a joke,” wrote one user on X (formerly Twitter), while another posted “What a bunch of losers we’ve become.”
‘Welcome to the nanny state, Pinky!’ Another began, before elaborating, ‘but seriously…she’s 44. It is beyond ridiculous that she was required to prove her age. What a disaster Sydney nightlife is these days!
Many Australians took to social media to express their discontent with the rules.
“What kind of shithole have we become where adults need to show ID to get in to buy dinner?” another X user complained.
However, others were not as embarrassed by the incident and believed that the rules should apply to everyone.
‘I do not see the problem. She didn’t have identification. Would they let you in without it? “No. Her perceived ‘status’ is irrelevant,” she reads in one comment.
“Good for the club. There is a rule for all visitors. Just because you are famous doesn’t mean you have special privileges,” wrote another, while another asked: “Why shouldn’t I respect the rules?”
Pink, who considers Australia her “second home”, is currently in Australia for her Summer Carnival tour, which kicked off in Sydney on Friday night.
She’s been exploring with her husband Carey Hart and children Willow, 12, and Jameson, 7, surprising Australians with their low-key outings.
Pink was born and raised in the United States, but has become an ‘honorary Australian’ after breaking album and concert sales records in Australia.