Man in Maga Hat Files Complaint After Being Kicked Out of Pub
In a St Kilda pub, a man wearing a Donald Trump baseball cap was informed that his attire made staff feel unsafe.
After being asked to remove his “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) hat at Captain Baxter on Australia Day, the man, now known as “MAGA hat man,” was later asked to leave a different venue despite no longer wearing the cap.
According to the man, Ange Notta, the venue manager approached him within 10 minutes of being seated and asked him to remove the hat to avoid political tensions.
Although Notta complied and took off the hat, his friend later put it on and was also told to remove it by security.
Feeling like there was a double standard, Notta mentioned that a Kamala Harris or “free Palestine” hat would not have been treated the same way.
Later that evening, Notta went to another venue, Republica, without realizing it was owned by the same hotel group. Even though he was not wearing any political attire, he was asked to leave because staff felt unsafe.
Notta plans to file a complaint with the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission regarding these incidents.
These events follow a similar case in Queensland where a man was ousted from a queer pub for wearing a Donald Trump hat.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allen commented on the situation, stating that people should have the freedom to express their views, regardless of whether she agrees with them or not.
Melbourne Hospitality People, the owner of both venues involved in Notta’s encounters, was contacted for a statement.
