Two dedicated Barry Manilow fans paid £2,500 for a VIP meet and greet in Liverpool but were turned away because Wayne Denton's sparkly jacket and wig were deemed 'insulting' to the singer. Wayne Denton and his friend Janet Martin were left 'humiliated' after they claim they were refused entry to a meet and greet with Barry Manilow at his Liverpool concert, despite forking out £2,481 for the gold VIP package.
Dedicated Fans Denied Access
The devoted duo have seen Barry perform over 20 times worldwide, travelling to destinations including Las Vegas and Toronto. However, Wayne felt 'humiliated' when he was prevented from meeting Barry at the M&S Bank Arena last weekend despite paying for the privilege. Despite enjoying a front-row view of the performance, Wayne and Janet couldn't contain their excitement as they were set to meet the man himself and receive a professional photograph with the iconic performer. But things went wrong, and Wayne alleges a member of Barry's entourage denied them access – and it was all to do with what he was wearing.
The Outfit in Question
Following the concert, the duo headed to the designated meeting spot for VIP ticket holders. Janet maintains a man at the entrance instructed them to halt and informed them they wouldn't be permitted at the meet and greet because of Wayne's appearance, which featured a sparkly jacket and wig. He states he wears the wig routinely in his everyday life as he's bald. The vibrant Copacabana jacket worn by Wayne and crafted by Janet marked a significant creative endeavour spanning multiple years. The entire collection features eight reproduction stage jackets modelled on Barry's performance attire.
In a recording obtained by the Liverpool Echo, a staff member tells the duo that Wayne must take off his wig and jacket. Janet challenged the instruction, branding it 'out of order'. Shortly after, another male member of staff, identifying himself as the manager, intervened and stated: 'I'm sorry. I've been instructed we can't do the wig and the jacket. It's an absolute no.'
Insulting to Barry
Wayne questioned whether the wig was the main concern, while Janet protested that demanding her business partner remove it was offensive, pointing out that 'women wear wigs too'. The manager responded: 'It's actually insulting to Barry, so it's an absolute no.' The initial staff member interrupted to clarify 'It's nothing to do with wearing a wig,' before the manager added: 'You are both being insulting to Mr Manilow. Both of you. We're not having this argument.'
The couple asked for a refund which the staff member 'guaranteed' would be provided. Subsequently, Wayne remarked: 'We can take the jacket off but the wig - there are lots of people wearing wigs.' Despite attempting to reach a compromise by removing the jacket while keeping the wig on, the pair were turned away and assured they would receive a refund. As the recording went on, Janet maintained no dress code had been mentioned in the email or booking confirmation. The manager retorted: 'Come on, it's common sense.' She then enquired whether a baseball cap might be available for Wayne to wear instead, but was informed they did not wish to 'get security involved'. Wayne urged Janet to meet Barry on her own, but she declined to abandon her friend.
Refund and Aftermath
Staff members reassured them both they would receive a complete refund, minus the cost of their seats. Janet confirmed to the Echo that the refund was processed as agreed, though the incident has left them feeling 'upset and humiliated'. She said: 'I've got tickets for September and I don't want to go. I feel sick. We've seen him so many times and had the best seats. It was awful, to be honest. Wayne wears his wig everywhere because he is bald. It was so humiliating. We're massive fans and we put our show together four years ago. It's a real show with a brass band and a real tribute but it's made me look at it all a different way now.' Representatives for Barry Manilow were contacted for comment by Mirror Online.
