Virat Kohli’s Restaurant Chain Controversy: Team India skipper Virat Kohli has landed in yet another controversy. However, this time it’s not ‘on the field’ but due to his restaurant chain – One8 Commune. As per the reports, an LGBTQIA+ activism group – ‘Yes, We Exist’ has alleged that One8 Commune’s Pune Branch has an ‘unacceptable’ discriminatory policy against the community. However, One8 Commune has denied all the allegations and has also issued a clarification in response. Follow InsideSport.in for all the latest updates
Controversy Over Virat Kohli’s Restaurant Chain Following Allegations by LGBTQIA+ Activism Group
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As per The Indian Express report, the Pune branch of Kohli’s restaurant denied entry to gay couples or a gay group of men. It only allowed ‘cisgender heterosexual couples or groups of cisgender women’.
In a detailed post shared on Instagram, The LGBTQIA+ activism group – ‘Yes, We Exist’ said the restaurant only allowed entry to “cisgender heterosexual couples or groups of cisgender women.” As per the post, the Pune Branch, when contacted, said, “Gay couples or a group of gay men not allowed; trans women are allowed subject to their clothing (sic).”
The group tagged Virat Kohli to bring the matter to his attention. The group also tagged Zomato – the food and essential delivery platform – and asked them to stop partnering to such businesses.
“@virat.kohli you are probably not aware of this, but your restaurant @one8.commune in Pune discriminates against LGBTQIA+ guests. The other branches too have a similar policy. This is unexpected and unacceptable. Hope you make necessary changes asap. @deepigoyal @zomato – either do a better job at sensitising restaurants or stop providing your platform to businesses that discriminate,” read the caption of ‘Yes, We Exist’ post on Instagram.
“We DM’ed [direct messaged] them 2 weeks ago, got no response. We called the Pune branch, they confirmed that entry is not allowed only for cisgender heterosexual couples or groups of cisgender woman; gay couples or a group of gay men are not allowed; trans women allowed subject to their clothing,” read the Instagram post by ‘Yes, We Exist’.
“Discrimination against LGBTQIA+ guests is common at such fancy restaurants, bars and clubs in India, and Virat Kohli is no exception,” the post adds.
Check out the post –
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The Indian Express report further stated that the Pune Branch of the restaurant has denied all the charges, stating that it has a restriction on ‘stag entry’, which means ‘individual boys are not allowed’.
“We don’t do any discrimination on the basis of gender. We have restriction on stag entry which means individual boys are not allowed within the premises. This is only for the safety of the ladies present in the premises,” Amit Joshi, Pune branch, One8 Commune, was quoted as saying by indianexpress.com.
The restaurant has also issued a clarification in response to the allegations on social media through Instagram stories –
“At one8 Commune, we believe in welcoming all people irrespective of their gender and/or preferences with utmost respect and honour. As our name denotes, we have always been inclusive in serving all communities since our inception.”
“Similar to industry-wide practice and in conformity with government rules, we obviously have a prohibition of stag entry. policy (subject to necessary relaxation) in place so as to ensure a safe and enjoyable environment for our guests.
“That does not in any way. mean that our company policy provides any discriminatory entry rules for/against any particular community,” it added.
Virat Kohli’s restaurant chain – One8Commune operates across Pune, Delhi, and Kolkata. Meanwhile, there are no updates or any clarification into the matter from India skipper Virat Kohli himself.
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