Another Billion Dollar Lawsuit Accuses Greenhouse Of Racism

Katie Sokoler/Gothamist

Not to be outdone by that measly $1 billion class action lawsuit filed against Greenhouse—the "eco-friendly" but allegedly black-unfriendly downtown nightclub—some other offended blacks have stepped up with their own $1.5 billion lawsuit! Greenhouse: the "big tobacco" of nightclubs. This new lawsuit is being filed today by Raqiyah Mays, a Kiss FM radio host, and three others who say that they were not let in "due to their race." Isn't it about time for Latinos, Hasidim, and Sikhs to get their piece of the Greenhouse bonanza?

Mays was kept on the humiliating side of the velvet rope on September 25th, when she and others were trying to get into the Urban World Film Festival's after-party. She claims that the only black people admitted were those who arrived up with whites. "I would call it racism," Mays tells the Daily News. "I felt embarrassed. I felt humiliated. They were playing the picking game."

Greenhouse is known for a notoriously exclusive door policy, and people of all ethnicities have complained about not being allowed to throw their money down that obnoxious clusterfuckhole. But the party was attended by black photographer Johnny Nunez, who tells the News, "When (the organizer) didn't show up, everything kind of fell apart. People that were screaming racism didn't want to get in line with everyone else. They wanted red carpet treatment." And the Greenhouse owner calls the allegations "unfounded."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Del Signore in News on October 27, 2009 11:10 AM

Comments [rss]

fixer

funny, you never used to hear these stories about studio 54, mk, and other it places with door policies / face guards. maybe it existed back then, or maybe people are just less inclined in these modern times to consider that they just don't measure up to whatever arbitrary standard is being employed.

ribaldry

tort reform?

Kevin Bracken

The only time I ever went there, my fav. black DJ was playing. And his name is Dances With White Girls.

Clarice City

Check out her myspace (ugh. gross.) page. She only interviews black people. Racist!

Also, she's just plain old ugly. That's probably why they didn't let her into the cluuuuuurrrb.

If ugly people had a class action suit that would really be something because, let's face it, they are the only people on earth that are routinely discriminated against.

valeriob

Is that the same Raqiya Mays that got fired for Power 105.1 for her racial remarks?

Well this is her comment Re:above fracas:

"I'm a racist. I really am. I have a problem with white people. Not all white people, but a lot of white people. ... I can't tell if they are being real with me or not. And then I hate when the black guy is walking down the street with the white girl. I hate both of them. C'mon, there's a man shortage, why you got to go ... "

Woops!

Boogie Down

Oh, but if you read the comments that follow the article you will discover that she is not and cannot be a racist.

Bernie Madoff-Goetz

And this is why the NYPD and the "Black Community" make such perfect nemesi--no one from either group EVER does ANYTHING wrong.

hotstepper

nice investigative work.

it's really surprising with the warm and fuzzy attitude that she is having trouble attracting men...

youngpro

please don't let Sharpton find out...please don't let Sharpton find out...please don't let Sharpton find out...>

pinball29

Im filing a 2 trillion dollar lawsuit claiming mental distress and disability due to being subjected to this story and having to live in the same city as idiots whining about not being admitted to this douchehole.

NannyState

I'm suing them for $1 billion, for allowing my whiskey sour to slip into a coma.

tobinnyc

i'm going 2.5 trillion...

Polite New Yorker

I will go to this establishment this evening. If I find evidence of racism on the part of the staff, I will upper decker the place.

hotstepper

unoriginal bastards. this is racial extortion at it's best.

Bernie Madoff-Goetz

How to take sides? Cash-in race hustlers or Patrick Bateman-infested douchey nightclub. Decisions, decisions...

Billiamsburg

maybe they could let them in, then one of those 'nightclub tragedies' could happen where people trample each other to death and the club has to shut down and then pay out millions to the families and the owner goes to prison because he put dj booths in front of the fire escapes. win-win.