The Penthouse Night Club, known for its cheeky marquee signs, has stirred up controversy once again. Benjamin Jackson, the creative mind behind the club’s iconic signs, has shifted from light-hearted jokes to more politically charged messages in recent times.
In a bold move, the latest sign by Jackson mocks Donald Trump’s proposal to rename Lake Ontario to Lake America and references the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool issue.
However, the club faced a setback when Instagram swiftly removed the post, leading to a ban on both Jackson’s and the club’s accounts. Jackson expressed frustration, stating that managing an Instagram account for a strip club is already challenging, and being penalized for a harmless joke adds to the difficulties.
Danny Filippone, the owner of the Penthouse Night Club, expressed shock over the removal, emphasizing that the post was intended as humor without targeting specific individuals.
This is not the first time the Penthouse has courted controversy. Previously, a sign referencing Trump’s 51st state remarks led to their account being banned for hate speech.
Despite the social media restrictions, the club has received overwhelming support from the Vancouver community, with many praising their bold stance.
The Penthouse is currently in the process of appealing the Instagram ban as they assert their right to free speech in a changing landscape where expressing opinions is becoming increasingly censored.
CityNews has contacted Meta, the parent company of Instagram, for a statement on the matter.
