Women Accuse Houston Restaurant Of Refusing Them Entry Because Of Their Dresses In Viral Video

A group of young women person accused a edifice successful Texas of refusing them introduction because of their outfits.

​In a TikTok video, 1 of nan group claimed that their preservation astatine Cocody Restaurant and Bar successful River Oaks, Houston, was not honored because immoderate of their dresses were “too short.”

​In the widely-shared clip, uploaded by @roszzemary, 1 female scans her camera astir nan group - that was each Black women - and claims different was not allowed successful because her shoulders were exposed. The footage show nan women wearing colorful, figure-hugging dresses for a day nighttime out.

“IT IS DEFINITELY OKAY FOR RESTAURANTS TO HAVE DRESS CODES, HOWEVER THE SECURITY GUARDS SHOULD KEEP THE SAME ENERGY WHEN IT COMES TO EVERYONE, AND I MEAN EVERYBODY!!!” nan TikToker captioned nan post. ​

The viral video has since racked up complete 167,000 likes. In a follow-up post, nan TikTok personification explained that nan group had booked a array astatine nan edifice connected their friend’s birthday.

“And, for america to really get there, and for them to opportunity you guys cannot travel successful because of what you’re wearing when, successful reality, correct successful beforehand of our eyes, we saw different group coming successful and retired of Cocody wearing this,” she said.​

The clip includes footage of different diners, whom nan women declare were allowed introduction to nan restaurant. ​Those diners were besides wearing short, figure-hugging dresses.

In a connection obtained by Click2Houston, a spokesperson for Cocody said that nan edifice was “aware of nan video circulating connected societal media regarding our dress codification policy.”​

The spokesperson said that nan edifice “consistently” enforces its dress code and treats its guests pinch “respect and professionalism.”​ In nan statement, nan spokesperson besides claimed that nan viral clip “does not bespeak nan afloat discourse of nan relationship and is incomplete and misleading.”​

On Cocody's website, nan restaurant’s dress codification is described arsenic “smart wear, business casual aliases master attire.”​

“Athletic wear, sleepwear, slippers, excessively revealing clothing, aliases exposed undergarments are not permitted,” nan website continues. “Management reserves nan correct to diminution introduction to guests who do not meet these requirements.”​

According to nan website, nan edifice takes its sanction from a suburb successful Abidjan, a metropolis successful Côte d’Ivoire wherever Cocody’s owners grew up.

Lionel Debon, who is nan executive cook astatine nan French-inspired restaurant, has worked successful respective Michelin-starred restaurants.

The Independent has contacted nan video’s original poster and Cocody Restaurant & Bar for comment.