MYSHISH LONDON RESTAURANT WALTHAMSTOW
This is a declaration of war.
The establishment called Myshish, in Walthamstow, has allowed, and indeed encouraged, their member of staff to abuse me.
On the 31st December 2024, I made my way to their venue, as per booked in writing, by their office.
I was exhausted, after 4 hours of sleep, a gig on the same day, and severe abdominal pains due to fibromyalgia complications. I forced myself to attend, because of duty.
Indeed they had booked me at the very last minute, presumably because some other dancer dropped off; but being a professional, I honoured the gig.
I zigzagged from Kings Cross, to Kensington for my props, to my home in South London, then to their restaurant in Walthamstow. I walked 15 minutes from the station, including 5 horrifying minutes in darkest woods with no lights.
After dancing 5 minutes dancing, a young waitress with false lashes desperately glued to her face came to instruct me to stop, upon request from her boss. As I waited in the kitchen area, the manager came out of the DJ booth. As soon as he approached me, he started shouting at me: “WHAT WAS THAT?!!?...” He went on to berate me and tell me off like a 10-year-old without their exercise book, calling me the “worst dancer on the planet”, and also a “SCAMMER” and a “THIEF”, about 5 or 6 times. He told me that “Anyone on the planet could do this better than [me]”. In my opinion, and according to my observations, the man’s a recurrent abuser. He was vile, demeaning, insisted on belittling me, whilst I was begging him to listen to me. I tried many times to tell him that I was PROMISED payment IN WRITING. I tried to explain that I had walked and walked, and spent money on the train. He refused to pay me, over and over again. The agreed fee was £200, half the price for the specific date. He cut me off whilst speaking, over and over. When I finally told him to “shut up”, so I could finish a sentence: he ERUPTED into a dark rage. He obviously could not believe that I had dared to order him about.
That man displayed some clear sadistic and narcissist tendencies, and it is my opinion that he should NOT be exposed to the great public, which would include vulnerable people.
There are incidentally, a few reviews complaining about his aggressive demeanour towards customers who had complained about the food or service.
The young millennial staff member with the large fake lashes kept waving her hand in front of my face, ordering me to “leave it!”, as is I were her subordinate. I dare say, she is half my age. She shouldn’t feel so emboldened to act like this towards me; not in a healthy, non-racially-biased environment
I have done this job for over 20 years. I have trained for my craft; made, bought and repaired my costumes. I have had glowing reviews from previous clients. I have tried long and hard to put this unpleasant incident behind me. I have NEVER been treated in that fashion; nor have I ever heard of any performer being so personally BERATED by a client or employer. The very fact that the company themselves, MyShish, JUSTIFIED their employee’s behaviour, instead of retracting his statements: after my written complaints to them, after my written reviews about them: to me signals quite clearly that they should be out of business.
It is also my impression that they have never hired any Black dancers, for the venue, before me. As per their social media, I believe I was the first dark-skinned dancer to grace the venue. Even for their Tropical night, they had European dancers, in feather costumes, cosplaying Caribbean or Brazilian dancers.
I know the business far too well, to know that dark-skinned dancers are often shunned. I also too often hear from clients who do not want anyone “too” tanned (I run a small dancers agency).
I have been offered my travel money back, by MyShish, after my formal complaint to them. If the manager in question had not so vehemently accused me of being a criminal; if he had not been so hostile, so personal in his verbal attacks; if he had just given me £20 for my travel, right there and then: I would not still be complaining about the enterprise as a whole. I would not even complain about the man himself.
There were many opportunities to send me a written apology. Now 6 months later, I am still chasing my money, via an Employment Tribunal. There is a preliminary hearing at the end of July, next month.
Every day is a reiteration of that awful series of statements on my person, my skills, my alleged criminal behaviour. Everyday is a refusal to pay me.
As the New Year 2025 started, and celebrations exploded around me, I was walking back to the station, in tears, questioning my self-worth. I did not sleep a wink for the next 24 hours.
This was abusive, thoroughly unnecessary, and unacceptable attitude from a manager who represents an enterprise. It will never leave me. All I did was show up for a job, an honest job. I was treated as would be a criminal, with absolutely no retraction.
So go ahead, MyShish: SUE me for defamation.
I shall be waiting. Go ahead and spend some money on me, for once in your life.
As clearly stated above, IT’S WAR.
theartofmadeline
pixelskylines
kianamaiart
ellievsbear
amandla