Leamington bar hits back over 'sexist' wallpaper

[dutchman]

A Leamington bar has hit back at a student campaign demanding it takes down allegedly “sexist” wallpaper.



Almost 3,000 people have signed a petition demanding Moo Bar in Russell Street takes down images which include slogans such as “Black runaway slave girl, aged 18 years, seeks plantation master” and “Busty Indian schoolgirl”.

Warwick University’s students argued the images “increased anxiety and fear of sexual assault among women” and complaints saw Warwickshire Police visit the bar last week.

However, the bar says the wallpaper is actually made up of genuine ‘kink cards’ used in the sex trade in the 80s and insists they were put up to spark artistic debate.

A statement said: “The police visited the bar last week and were happy that the interior was not breaking any laws. While the intention was to be provocative, we refute any suggestion that they are fabricated, sexist, racist or violent.

“We are pleased that the artwork has opened a debate about the issues it addresses, and whilst certainly challenging, people must realise that history can’t be airbrushed.

“In response to the flawed and misleading petition from the Warwick Anti Sexism Society (WASS) we can only say sorry if we’ve upset anyone, but the very nature of art through history has often been divisive and controversial.

“We can confirm that we have removed one of the images - from more than 25,000 present - that has caused most concern.”