Popular restaurant and entertainment chain Dave & Buster’s openly targets children with its marketing and arcade games.
The restaurant is facing severe backlash after choosing to sponsor an LGBT event, which included a children’s drag show.
The controversy emerged when the Instagram account featured Dave & Buster’s logo in a post and outlined the event scheduled for Saturday, September 23rd.
The event includes multiple drag shows and musical performances.
Dave & Buster’s is listed as the event’s “bar sponsor” for one-hour and 15-minute “Youth Entertainers (Drag Show).”
The event is being held in De Pere, Wisconsin, which lies just south of Green Bay.
The controversy caught the attention of the popular social media page Libs of TikTok, which shared a copy of the Instagram image and tagged Dave & Buster’s account in the post.
Libs of TikTok’s tweet highlighted the event’s nature, stating, “@DaveandBusters is sponsoring a pride event in Wisconsin where children will dress up in drag and perform a sexual-themed show as adults clap along and encourage them.”
The tweet sparked significant outrage among concerned individuals, many of whom expressed their dismay over the apparent sponsorship and called for a boycott of Dave & Buster’s.
@DaveandBusters doesn’t want our $? Fine by me. Give them the BudLight treatment.
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) August 31, 2023
Dave & Busted
— James McDaniel (@JamesMcDaniel) August 31, 2023
Time to Bud Lite them.
— Dirty Prune (@Dirty_Prune) August 31, 2023
Guess I'll never be going to there
— THE OTHER HOLLYWOOD XXX™🔞 (@OtherHollywoodx) August 31, 2023
Shame on @DaveandBusters for supporting the grooming and exploitation of CHILDREN!
— Amber Krabach (@AK4WA) August 31, 2023
Bummer 😔 I guess we'll have to take our fun elsewhere.
— Christina (@BionicGirlChris) September 1, 2023
Enjoy going broke @DaveandBusters
— Lance (@OkayestLance) August 31, 2023
Dave & Busters had not responded to the Libs of TikTok post as of Monday morning.
Dave & Buster’s, a well-known restaurant and entertainment chain headquartered in Dallas, Texas, boasts a network of over 140 locations nationwide.
Renowned for its fusion of dining, arcade games, and sports viewing, Dave & Buster’s offers a distinctive entertainment experience for a diverse range of patrons.
The company has said it is committed to “inclusivity and diversity by occasionally hosting LGBT ‘pride’ events at select venues.”
These events contribute to creating a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere for all guests to enjoy, according to statements from the company.
