Darts girls’ boss targets farcical ban by PC zealots
ONE of Britain’s first ever darts walk-on girls yesterday hit out at the “politically correct” decision to ban them.
Karen Jean Cookson, 46, was one of the first to accompany players on to the stage at a TV darts tournament.
The model from Blackpool now runs the Angels Elite agency, managing darts walk-on girls Daniella Allfree and Charlotte Wood.
Yesterday she revealed her devastation at their ban by the Professional Darts Corporation and Formula One’s decision to end the use of grid girls.
She said: “I was one of the first darts walk-on girls when it was trialled in the 1990s at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens. It was to create a more glamorous occasion and the atmosphere was amazing.
“I chose to do it and today’s girls also choose to do it – but now their livelihoods are being taken away.
“Many have children and it’s their career. Where’s it going to stop? This is political correctness going too far.”
Classy
Karen, Sue Knight and Samanaha Hearn were the first TV darts walk-on girls in 1994.
Karen stressed that “glamour is part of the entertainment business”.
She added: “Every girl who has done it has absolutely loved it. They are not intimidated, they are respected and choose what they want to wear.
“This is taking a woman’s choice away from her. We don’t interfere with anyone else’s job, so why are they interfering in ours?”
After the darts ban was announced this week, Jade Slusarczyk, 32, a walk-on girl for seven years, said: “Some people say having walk-on girls is demeaning or degrading but I do not feel degraded at all. I don’t wear skimpy outfits, I wear classy, knee-length dresses.
“I have never been made to feel uncomfortable and there’s never been anything untoward. It’s like a big sporting family.”
The Professional Darts Corporation said: “We regularly review all aspects of our events. This move has been made following feedback from our host broadcasters.”
Meanwhile several grid girls have criticised Formula One’s decision to also abolish their role in the sport.
Model Rebecca Cooper tweeted: “Ridiculous that women who say they are ‘fighting for women’s rights’ are saying what others should and shouldn’t do. Stopping us from doing a job we love. Political correctness gone mad.”
Sean Bratches, F1’s American commercial chief, said: “Over the last year we have looked at a number of areas we felt needed updating. The practice of employing grid girls has been a staple of Formula One Grand Prix for decades. But we feel this custom does not resonate with our brand values.”
Three-time world champion Sir Jackie Stewart, 78, admitted: “These are different times we are living in.”
THANK heavens for a bit of common sense. Karen Jean Cookson, one of the first darts walk-on girls and now the head of an agency which manages them, has said that a ban on the beauties is “political correctness going too far”.
She also made the point that the women involved chose to do it, that it is their livelihood and that the people who would remove them from the proceedings are denying them a job. She is absolutely right.
Genuine exploitation is a terrible thing and should be wiped out wherever it is seen but this is just a bit of a laugh. No one is being hurt, no one is being coerced and the women themselves plainly enjoy it.
This situation is becoming farcical. Ironic, given the numbers of people now trying to ban fun.