A popular fashion blogger has a bone to pick with NYC’s Soho House after she was allegedly barred from bringing her emotional support dog to the facility.
Hyun Jae Jung, also known as Miju Bijou, claims the exclusive club kicked her out and revoked her membership after she showed up to eat with her French bulldog, Pizza Giovannino, on May 20.
Court documents obtained by DailyMail.com, show Bijou, a creative director for blog Bag Girl Problems, is now seeking compensatory damages for ‘unlawful discrimination.’
Bijou states that she has a disability recognized by a licensed psychiatrist and is authorized by a licensed doctor to use Pizza for support and companionship.
Hyun Jae Jung, also known as Miju Bijou, claims Soho House kicked her out and revoked her membership after she showed up to eat with her French bulldog, Pizza Giovannino, on May 20
Bijou arrived at the posh club to eat with Pizza around 8pm when she was confronted by Soho House employee Karen Pinckney-Sanchez, court papers state
The filing states that emotional support animals ‘do not require specialized training. However, they do require a therapist letter in order to be considered valid’ – which she had.
Bijou arrived at the posh club to eat with Pizza around 8pm when she was confronted by Soho House employee Karen Pinckney-Sanchez, court papers state.
Pinckney-Sanchez allegedly asked Bijou to ‘show me what your dog does of service to you.’
Bijou responded that her dog provides therapeutic value, and that she was authorized by her licensed psychiatrist to maintain an emotional support animal while in public.
Pinckney-Sanchez then allegedly forced her to leave in the middle of her meal.
Bijou claims that the following day she was notified that they were ending her membership at the club and that she would not receive a refund of the seven months of access she had left.
The posh club – originally based in London – is located in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District, is an exclusive social club geared towards people in the arts and media industries but is known to be a popular hot spot among celebrity members as well.
Bijou, a popular blogger with 49,000 Instagram followers, states that she has a disability recognized by a licensed psychiatrist and is authorized by a licensed doctor to use Pizza for support and companionship
Bijou was allegedly told the next day that her membership at Soho House (pictured) would be terminated and that she would not receive a refund on the remaining seven months
Soho House has locations six locations across NYC: its flagship located on Ninth Ave, and Ludlow House on Ludlow St.
It also has facilities in Malibu, Miami, West Hollywood, and international clubs in London, Spain, Germany, Turkey, and Canada.
Club memberships for one facility can run up to $2,100 annually, and $3,200 for access to every club.
The facility in New York City was famously featured in Sex and the City and its London location is reportedly where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle had their first date.
The lawsuit calls Soho House’s refusal to allow the service dog entry, ‘willful, malicious, and oppressive.’