NYC’s Q Nightclub Sued Over “Toxic Work Environment” That Included Racism, Transphobia, And Public Sex
It’s barely been open a year (why on earth someone would open a nightclub in the middle of a fucking pandemic is beyond me), but there’s already major drama. Via NPR:
The celebrity-backed, multilevel Hell’s Kitchen nightclub opened a little over a year ago, rising from the ruins of bars, restaurants and clubs shuttered in New York City due to COVID-19.
With rave reviews, it quickly became one of the city’s largest LGBTQ nightclubs.
This summer, [former creative director] Frankie Sharp sued Bob Fluet and Allan Pikus, the two partners he worked closely with for more than two years to open the club. Fluet is the owner and architect of the successful Boxers venues in the city, and Pikus describes himself as an “event producer” on his LinkedIn page.
In his lawsuit filed in New York’s Supreme Court in June, and first reported by Instinct magazine, Sharp alleges a litany of problems at The Q. Sharp claims he was wrongfully terminated only after bringing several employee complaints and his personal concerns, both about Pikus in particular, to Fluet.
Explicit details in the lawsuit contain allegations that Pikus created a toxic environment from the moment the club opened and freely used racist, transphobic and generally discriminatory language. Pikus is also alleged to have engaged in public sex in the club around employees and to have used his power to take advantage of young gay men who came to The Q. These allegations are supported by additional communications between Sharp and current and former employees as well as patrons of the club.
[NPR]
