Fat chance

Club staff boycott Chubby tribute

Nightclub staff have boycotted a Roy "Chubby" Brown tribute night over fears they would be subjected to a torrent of racist and sexist abuse.

Half the staff at Exeter's Havana nightclub protested about impersonator Kris Kenny appearance last night.

Barman Dan Armson told the town's Express And Echo newspaper: "We do not want to be cringing all night while we are working. Some people are of the view that he is a bigot.

"I am half Egyptian myself and I have to hear all kinds of rubbish from people. I do not want to be supporting someone who is promoting that type of behaviour. He is boring and offensive."

But Kenny, from Wolverhampton was defiant.

He said: "I do not give a stuff. It's all filth and debauchery, but that's life. I am doing an act by someone who has been doing his show for 30 years. I'll get behind the bar and pull the pints if need be.

"Chubby Brown is not racist, sexist or a bigot. It's a portrayal of a character."

Havana owner Edmond Davari also defended the booking, complaining: "Some of the staff are being politically correct."

Published: 6 Mar 2003

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