Wayne Denton, a 69-year-old Barry Manilow impersonator, was denied entry to a meet-and-greet with the singer after staff at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool said his wig and orange sparkly jacket were an insult to Manilow. Denton and his business partner Janet Martin, 54, had spent £2,480 on gold VIP packages for the June 21 show, which included front-row seats and an after-show meet-and-greet.
Superfans denied access over outfit
Denton, from Stourbridge in the West Midlands, performs a tribute act called Celebrating Barry and has watched Manilow perform more than 20 times worldwide, including in Las Vegas and Toronto. Despite their loyalty, the pair had never met the star. According to a recording obtained by the Liverpool Echo, a staff member instructed Denton to remove his wig and jacket before entering the meet-and-greet. When Denton and Martin protested, another staff member said, “It’s actually insulting to Barry, so it’s an absolute no.”
Insult or celebration?
Martin, a backing singer in the tribute act, defended the outfit, calling it a “joyous celebratory outfit” for Manilow’s return to touring after illness. She noted that the orange Copacabana jacket was one of eight replica stage jackets she had designed based on Manilow’s iconic costumes. “How can anyone find us insulting?” she asked. “We were celebrating the man and the music.” Martin argued that asking Denton to remove his wig was insensitive, as it replicated his own hair before he went bald. “Women wear wigs too,” she told staff.
Refund offered but not full
The pair requested a refund, which a staff member “guaranteed” would be provided, though they were told it would exclude the cost of their seats. Martin noted that no dress code was mentioned in the booking confirmation or email. When she suggested Denton wear a baseball cap instead, staff refused, saying they did not want to “get security involved.” Denton offered to let Martin attend alone, but she declined to abandon him. The incident left Martin questioning whether the decision reflected Manilow’s own views. A spokesman for Manilow was contacted for comment.
