Grim reaper banned from party for being 'blacked up'
A man who painted his face black for a ‘Grim Reaper’ fancy dress outfit was left “embarrassed” after being banned from a university party.
Ryan Lytwyn, 22, used black, white and red paint to decorate his face, adding a black cloak to complete his costume.
But when the Edinburgh university graduate arrived at the party, he was turned away by the door staff.
They claimed other partygoers “might complain”.
Lytwyn said, “Everyone thinks it’s ridiculous."
“I felt like I was accused of blacking up which in itself is offensive to me. It’s also quite bizarre to compare the Grim Reaper to that as well.”
“I asked them if my makeup had caused offence and the manager answered no, but that some might find it offensive,” Lytwyn added.
“They told me I had to leave unless I removed the makeup. To be singled out in the queue was embarrassing.”
The graduate explained how he tried to defend his case and argue that he wasn’t dressing up to offend black people.
The Student Association has defended its decision, with vice-president Jenna Kelly telling SWNS that “blackface is racist and outdated - it is not permitted under any circumstances in our venues”.
Following a series of incidents involving undergraduates “blacking up”, the Student Association banned students from dressing up as Mexicans, gangsters, mental patients and “camp men” earlier this year.
