Britons outraged by men-only VIP charity dinner where hostesses say they were groped

Jane Onyanga-Omara | USA TODAY

LONDON — Many Britons reacted with outrage Wednesday, after a news report said that female workers were groped at a men-only charity dinner attended by hundreds of senior figures from the business, entertainment and political worlds.

Hostesses hired to work at the Presidents Club Charity Dinner were told to wear skimpy black outfits, black underwear and “sexy” high heels, The Financial Times reported. Many of the 130 hostesses, who had to be "tall, thin and pretty" according to the hiring brief, were groped, sexually harassed and propositioned at an after party, the newspaper said.

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The FT sent two reporters to work undercover as hostesses at Thursday’s event attended by 360 guests in the ballroom of the luxury Dorchester Hotel in central London. The expose, published Tuesday night, provoked a storm of condemnation.

The annual, secretive event has been running for 33 years. This year, it was hosted by British comedian David Walliams and raised more than $2.8 million for charity.

Walliams said he left immediately after he finished presenting at 11.30pm. "I did not witness any of the kind of behaviour that allegedly occurred and am absolutely appalled by the reports," he tweeted Wednesday.

2) I left immediately after I had finished my presenting on stage at 11.30pm. I did not witness any of the kind of behaviour that allegedly occurred and am absolutely appalled by the reports. — David Walliams (@davidwalliams) January 24, 2018

On a day when I am having to respond to the media at its worst, here’s an example of it at its very best. This is brave reporting from @FT, exposing behaviour that is outrageous and unacceptable. So depressing to think that this still happens in 2018. https://t.co/V9kgGGZYnL — Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) January 24, 2018

A brochure for the event warned that nobody present should be sexually harassed, but hostesses said guests repeatedly put their hands up their skirts and reported “repeated requests to join diners in bedrooms." One woman said an attendee exposed his genitalia to her, according to the FT.

“Welcome to the most un-PC event of the year,” TV presenter Jonny Gould, who hosted a charity auction, told the gathering, according to the FT.

Among the items on auction were lunch with Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, afternoon tea with Bank of England governor Mark Carney, a night at a London strip club and plastic surgery to “Add spice to your wife.” Johnson and Carney did not attend the dinner.

“I was groped several times, and I know there were numerous other hostesses who said the same thing had happened to them," FT reporter Madison Marriage told the BBC's Newsnight program.

“Hands up skirts, hands on bums, hands on hips, hands on stomachs, hands going round your waist suddenly," she added.

Female politicians were among those who expressed their outrage.

Sophie Walker, leader of the Women’s Equality party said: “Men from across political, business, and entertainment worlds are implicated in this grotesque circus of sleazy rich men pawing at young women and buying crude ‘lots’ in the name of charity."

“Those who are worried that women’s confrontation of sexual harassment has gone too far and turned into a ‘witch hunt’, look no further," she added.

For the idiots claiming #PresidentsClub women were there by choice: what luxury & privilege to be able to argue contrarian view. Women don't choose to be objectified, harassed and paid less for jobs men define/don't want. Our 'choices' are shaped daily by the limits placed on us. — Sophie Walker (@SophieRunning) January 24, 2018

“More than 300 rich businessmen were perfectly happy to attend such an event, which shows the rotten, sexist culture still alive and kicking in parts of the business community,” tweeted Jo Swinson, deputy leader of the opposition Liberal Democrats party. “Time’s up on this crap.”

More than 300 rich businessmen were perfectly happy to attend such an event, which shows what a rotten, sexist culture is still alive and kicking in parts of the business community. Time’s up on this crap. 💩 — Jo Swinson (@joswinson) January 23, 2018

Great Ormond Street Hospital, the country’s leading children’s hospital, said it will return previous donations from the event.

"We have had no involvement in the organisation of this event and were never due to receive money from it. We would never knowingly accept donations raised in this way," the hospital said in a statement.

Advertising agency WPP, which sponsored a table at the dinner, said it would no longer support the event. Its chief, Martin Sorrell, told the BBC its guests did not see any of the alleged behavior.

The Dorchester Hotel in London said it was "deeply concerned," the BBC reported.

David Meller, who helped organize the dinner, quit the board of Britain's Department for Education, lawmakers heard Wednesday.

Education Minister Anne Milton told Parliament that Meller, who became a non-executive board member in 2013, was "absolutely clear" that exiting the role was the "right thing to do."

In a statement, the Presidents Club said: "The organisers are appalled by the allegations of bad behaviour at the event asserted by the Financial Times reporters. Such behaviour is totally unacceptable. The allegations will be investigated fully and promptly and appropriate action taken."