Short Cocktail Waitresses Sue The Standard For $1Mil

by Mara Siegler · January 26, 2011

    Two former cocktail waitresses, 5'4" Faye Rex and Stephanie Jaggers, are suing the Boom Boom Room, claiming they were fired for not being "tall, extremely slender and extremely good looking." Height discrimination in bars isn't a new thing. Hovering in the 5ft-ish range, I know from first hand experience. 

    It's hard to get a drink when your head is barely above the bar and you're sandwiched between two statuesque models. But the Standard is taking its bias against the vertically challenged to a whole new level, and the hotel's being sued for it!

    But wait, if the lux hotel hates short people lacking genetic blessings, then how did they get a job in the first place? According to them, the penthouse was not as strict in its initial hiring and only began adhering to the new model-mandates when the penthouse reopened after being renovated last summer.

    The suit states: "The Boom Boom Room wanted only cocktail waitresses who fit into its own perception of perfection, women who appear to be willowy, svelte and statuesque runway models - none of which is a bona fide occupational qualification for a cocktail waitress."

    Rex and Jaggers are seeking $1 million in damages, reports the NY Post. That's a lot of money to spend on sky high stilettos. Male employees, like males in all aspects of life, can look however they want which makes this suit technically fall under gender discrimination.

    [Photos via and via]