A Sydney DJ has accused security at a popular pub in the city’s south of “manhandling” him and throwing him onto the street, all because of one clothing item.
Matty Ferguson, also known as DJ Flexy Ferg, claimed the incident unfolded at the Miranda Hotel last month when he was performing at the venue.
Speaking to podcast Bondi Lines about Sydney’s night-life, Ferguson claimed the confrontation with security occurred after he finished his set and was leaving the venue to attend another gig.
As he was preparing to leave, the 27-year-old said he put on a red cap, a move which the security guards apparently took issue with.
“I was about 10 steps from the door and this security guard comes up to me and goes, ‘Oi mate, you can’t wear a f***ing hat in here”,” Ferguson said.
“I was like, ‘Man, I literally just got off the f***ing deck’.”
Matty Ferguson, aka DJ Flexy Ferg, has claimed he was ‘manhandled’ by security at a Sydney pub. Picture: Flexy Ferg/Instagram
He claimed the incident occurred because he had put a red hat on. Picture: Flexy Ferg/Instagram
The DJ claimed he took three more steps before the guard ran back over and took hold of him.
“[He] grabs me with both hands and goes, ‘I told you to take your f***ing hat off’,” he said.
“I admit I was a bit of a smart arse, I told him to leave his small man attitude at the door.”
Ferguson claimed he told security he was leaving to go to another gig, but this excuse allegedly didn’t suffice.
“I’m manhandled by two security guards and fully thrown out onto the street for wearing a hat in a venue,” he said.
“I feel like that s**t doesn’t happen anywhere else in the world.
“I’ve partied all around the world and I can’t imagine anything happening like that. Sydney definitely has the propensity to over-police.”
The alleged incident occurred at the Miranda Hotel in Sydney’s south. Picture: Miranda Hotel/Facebook
However, Ferguson did concede that not all Sydney security guards were overzealous, claiming he’d had great experiences with the bouncers at Rozelle’s Bridge Hotel in particular.
Though he did suggest there were those in the profession who were on a “power trip”.
“Licensing laws are so strict, they have all these little rules they have to follow and they kind of get a power trip about it all,” Ferguson said.
News.com.au has contacted the Miranda Hotel for comment.
The pub’s manager, Peter Ryan of Ryan’s Hotel Group, told The Age that he had not been informed of the incident, before claiming that “people say a lot of things on podcasts”.
Despite this, there are those that have been left less than impressed by the story, with some listeners calling the Miranda Hotel out on the pub’s Facebook page.
Ferguson made the claims on the Bondi Lines podcast. Picture: Flexy Ferg/Instagram
On one recent post about ‘Trivia Tuesdays’, multiple people referenced Ferguson’s claims.
One commenter claimed they would be booking a table for 100 people and will “all be wearing red caps to support inclusiveness”.
“We’ll be wearing them all night and are looking forward to being in a welcoming and inclusive environment. Thank you for creating a safe space for everyone,” they said.
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Another suggested they would book a table “so long as your security guards don’t throw me out if I wore an akubra hat, which is uniquely Australian”.
On another post about Mother’s Day, one person blasted the pub as “shameful” and questioned whether security would be “making the old ladies take off their hats”.
Read related topics:Sydney