Pub Forced To Apologise For 'Sexist' Permission Slips
A pub has been branded 'sexist' for issuing permission slips that men could print off and get their partner to sign which would enable them to go and watch the rugby.
Town Square Belfast shared the cheeky form on Instagram but they've been forced to apologise after people didn't quite see the funny side.
Women were asked on the form whether they consent to their 'Boyfriend/Fiancé/Husband' to go and watch the Six Nations games 'with the lads'.
Social media users were quick to respond and blasted it for 'alienating and disparaging half the population', as many deemed it an example of 'everyday sexism'.
However others sought to defend the joke by claiming some people will be 'offended by everything these days' and pointing out not everyone finds the same things funny.
After receiving a backlash, the bar took the image down, before re-uploading a modified permission slip in which the gender terms were changed in a bid to incorporate women.
The remodified image had #notjustformen #politicalcorrectness #girlslikerugbytoo written in the description, but it was taken down shortly after.
A spokesperson for Town Square Belfast said: "We don't usually mind ruffling a few feathers with our social media, but in this instance, we're genuinely sorry for any offence caused. The post was removed shortly after it was published."
Commenting on Twitter, one person wrote: "This has made me question my homosexuality. #Dull #Banal #EverydaySexism."
Another remarked: "Christ the night. There's another Belfast business to add to the boycott list," while a third wrote: "I could never be friends with anyone who finds this one bit funny."
Kat Freeman was one user who disagreed with the messaging, as she tweeted: "You know what's such a good business decision by Town Square? Alienating and disparaging literally half the population!"
Kat, from Belfast, said: "Mostly it was just cringe to be honest, it's kind of sad that they thought this is what peak humour looks like.
"When I saw they deleted and reposted it to be 'gender neutral' but still had to get a dig in with further sexist 'snowflake' hashtags, before then deleting it entirely, I really had to laugh.
"Absolutely embarrassing to think that joke was ever worth fixing and reposting to be honest.
"I mean this 50s 'My wife doesn't let me do XYZ' thing is so outdated.
"It's so apparent to everyone else with a brain in this day and age that women are disadvantaged in society, that to frame men as being victims under their own partners is so tone deaf and embarrassing."
The 25-year-old software engineer (yes men, you heard that right) isn't surprised that the post has generated a backlash online.
Kat said: "I think it's made such a response because it's rare to see a business making such a stupid, thoughtless post, and even rarer to see them back it up when called out on it."
Rebecca Shepherd