Melbourne eatery Mr Miyagi has officially changed its dress code after denying Russell Crowe and his girlfriend Britney Theriot when they showed up in ‘slobby gym gear’ last week.
Crowe and Theriot headed to the Japanese restaurant after a game of tennis but were promptly turned away because of their attire. While Crowe has since pointed out that he was a new Ralph Lauren polo shirt and Theriot was wearing a stylish tennis skirt, restaurant owner Kristian Klein doubled down on his staff’s decision.
“We treat everyone the same. It doesn’t matter who you are or if you are Russell Crowe. We’ve got a dress code that we push across every level,” Klein told The Herald Sun on Friday.
“So whoever it is, it stays the same. We’re consistent with it and I don’t feel like it’s unreasonable.”
He added, “We’re not trying to teach people how to dress. But I know personally if I’m in my thongs and my boardies, I’m not going to try and go to a nice restaurant, because I wouldn’t be dressed appropriately,” he said.
The restaurant does stipulate that their dress code is “work gear, activewear, singlets, and thongs (flip-flops)” are forbidden. However, Klein has appeared to have since changed his mind with an albeit tongue-in-cheek plaque about the incident.
A newly erected plaque inside the restaurant now reads: “DRESS SMART CASUAL… Unless you’re Russell Crowe. Then wear whatevs. **Management reserves the right to refuse entry.”
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Earlier this month, US Rapper Post Malone was denied entry to QT Perth’s rooftop bar because his tattoos didn’t adhere to the venue’s strict dress code.
“They turned me away for my tattoos… I’ve never really experienced anything like that,” the musician told West Australian while waiting to enter nearby venue 18 Knots rooftop bar.
The venue’s dress code prohibits “face, neck, and offensive tattoos”. The rapper has the majority of his body tattooed and sports a tattoo that reads ‘Always Tired’ under his eyes, as well as a barbed wire tatt across his hairline, two ace of spade cards on his forehead and a sword on his cheek.
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