Millionaires at Presidents Club men-only fundraiser ‘treated hostesses like sex workers and their play things’
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HOSTESSES at the controversial men-only dinner held by the Presidents Club were considered "play things" for men to "gawp at" and touch, a waitress who worked the event has claimed.
A woman, aged in her 20s who worked at the event on Thursday last week, claimed some of the women who then went to an after-party were treated by a number of men there as if they were sex workers.
She described how she had been made to feel very uncomfortable during the evening and was shocked by the behaviour of some of those in attendance.
She told "I realised quite soon it was an odd job. It wasn't a usual job. And the way the men behaved made me feel incredibly uncomfortable."
Celebs who were put down for a spot at the male-only event included TV chef Gino D'Acampo, telly Dragons Peter Jones and Theo Paphitis, and presenter Vernon Kay.
It is not clear if they attended, and no wrongdoing on their part is suggested.
What is the Presidents Club Charity Dinner?
The Presidents Club Charity Dinner has been a fixture in London's high-society social calendar for 33 years.
It is highly-exclusive and despite raising millions for charity, little has been previously reported on it.
Last Thursday, this year's event was held at The Dorchester Hotel in central London.
The event was attended by around 360 guests including politicians, businessmen, chief executives and film producers.
Auction items included lunch with Boris Johnson and afternoon tea with Bank of England governor Mark Carney.
Asked what the overall message appeared to be after the women first entered the room at the event, she said: "We were play things.
"We were objects for them to gawp at, touch. To be laughed at."
She said she believed some women working there "knew what it was about and it was a fun time for them to get drunk" but added that many appeared uncomfortable and looked "deflated" by the end of the night.
Last week's fundraiser at the plush Dorchester Hotel was today exposed as being rife with the sexual harassment of young hostesses.
An investigation by the reported women were paid £150 to dress in skimpy black outfits and fetch drinks for 360 high-flying businessmen and celebrities in attendance.
Many were groped and propositioned by guests — including one who was handed a glass of champagne and told: "Down that, rip your knickers off and dance on the table".
The waitress added that some men she spoke to also seemed uneasy about what was going on.
She said: "One guy said: 'Is this happening? I've never been to this event before, it's really odd.' One guy said: 'I wouldn't want my daughter to go through this.'"
At an after-party she said some other girls entered the room and "acted more provocatively".
Asked if she believed they may have been sex workers she said: "Yes. I was really wary of it and I was disgusted that was happening. I was worried about some of the girls who were talking to men.
"The men were treating them like sex workers. They were putting hands up skirts. Touching inappropriately. Some guys kissing other girls. It was uncomfortable."
She said she is pleased the club has announced it is to close, adding: "I've done events before where you just serve drinks and wait around. I didn't think it would be this seedy. We were paid to party and get as drunk as we could."
There is no suggestion that those listed are involved in the sexual harassment allegations exposed by the Financial Times.
Since the explosive report the Presdients Club — which has collected more than £20million for charity — announced it would no longer be hosting fundraising events.
A statement read: "The trustees have decided that the Presidents Club will not host any further fundraising events.
"Remaining funds will be distributed in an efficient manner to children's charities and it will then be closed."
Revealed: the guest list for the Presidents Club dinner
Below is the guest list for the dinner, as revealed by The Guardian. It is not clear who attended, and no wrongdoing on their part is suggested.
- Rashid Al Habtoor – hotel chain billionaire.
- Liam Botham – former rugby player, son of the former England cricketer Ian Botham.
- Ben Caring – son of the Ivy owner, Richard Caring.
- Raffaele Costa – ex-Goldman Sachs banker, hedge fund investor and superyacht owner.
- Gino D’Acampo – celebrity TV chef.
- Michael Daffey – senior equities boss at Goldman Sachs.
- Lord Dalmeny – deputy chairman of Sotheby’s UK auction house.
- Andrew Danenza – financier.
- Prof Sir Christopher Evans – biotechnology entrepreneur.
- Jamie Gourlay – private fine art dealer.
- Sir Philip Green – retail billionaire.
- Gary Hersham – property tycoon.
- Ross Hilton Kemper – real estate investor and son-in-law of the deceased Las Vegas billionaire Kirk Kerkorian.
- Prof George Holmes – vice-chancellor of the University of Bolton.
- Phillip Hylander – former Goldman Sachs banker.
- Peter Jones CBE – Dragons’ Den panellist.
- Vernon Kay – presenter and former model.
- Adam Kaye – owner of Zizzi restaurants.
- Jimmy Lahoud – restaurateur, owner of L’Escargot.
- Nick Minkoff – partner in property at the law firm Mishcon de Reya.
- Arun Nayar – textiles heir and actor Liz Hurley’s ex-husband.
- Roger Orf – partner and head of Apollo’s real estate business in Europe.
- Brett Palos – Sir Philip Green’s stepson.
- Theo Paphitis – Dragons’ Den panellist.
- David Pears – William Pears property group.
- Daniel Pittack – friend of Sir Philip Green.
- Bruce Ritchie – chief executive and founder of Residential Land.
- Jay Rutland – Tamara Ecclestone’s husband.
- Mark Steinberg – property investor.
- Peter Shalson – property investor.
- David Sonnenthal – founder of New Bond Street Pawnbrokers.
- Alexander Spencer-Churchill – grandson of the 10th Duke of Marlborough and a distant relative of Winston Churchill.
- Glenn Spiro – jeweller.
- Nathan Sugar – grandson of Lord Alan Sugar.
- Touker Suleyman – owner of the fashion brands Hawes & Curtis and Ghost and Low Profile Holdings.
- Michael Sulkin – director of Aston Chase estate agents.
- Jack Sullivan – son of the West Ham owner David Sullivan.
- Robert Tchenguiz – property investor.
- Ceawlin Thynn – Viscount Weymouth.
- Moni Varma – the “rice king”, founder of VeeTee Rice.
- Dan Wagner – internet entrepreneur.
- Henry Wyndham – former chairman of Sotheby’s Europe.
- Poju Zabludowicz – billionaire chief executive of the fund manager Tamares Group.
Were you a hostess at the Presidents Club dinner last week? Tell us your story. Call 0207 782 4368 or email [email protected]
The event last Thursday was hosted by BGT favourite David Walliams who today firmly denied any involvement in the harassment claims.
He said: "Last Thursday night I hosted the Presidents Club annual charity fundraiser. I agreed to host as it is one of the biggest charity fund raising events of the year.
"I was there in a strictly professional capacity and not as a guest.
"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."
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Great Ormond Street Children's Charity today said it would hand back donations. A spokesman said: "We would never knowingly accept donations raised in this way."
The Dorchester Hotel said it is "deeply concerned" and launched and investigation.
"We were not aware of any claims during or immediately following the charitable event," a spokeswoman added.
Artista agency, which recruited the hostesses, told the FT: "There is a code of conduct that we follow, I am not aware of any reports of sexual harassment and with the calibre of guest, I would be astonished."
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