22-year-old Talia Storm's controversial proposal came right after UK minister Michael Gove was seen dancing in an Aberdeen nightclub during the early hours of Sunday.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published on January 5, 2021. It has since been updated.
A singer in Jersey is calling for nightclubs to have a strict age limit, even suggesting separate venues for older folks. 22-year-old Talia Storm's controversial proposal came right after UK minister Michael Gove was seen dancing in an Aberdeen nightclub during the early hours of Sunday. Following this, Storm and 78-year-old DJ Tony Blackburn appeared on ITV's Good Morning Britain to debate whether people over 40 should be banned from nightclubs or not. According to ITV, Storm argued that mixing the younger and older groups in a club setting creates an uncomfortable environment for everyone.
"I love that, the thought of seeing everybody live their best lives I’m here for it," she told hosts, Sean Fletcher, and Charlotte Hawkins. "But I’m 22-years-old, I’m only just coming into my prime, I do not want to walk into the club and see my dad, see my dad’s friends, or even my granddad cutting some shapes. I’m just not sure what they have in common. Do they like Tion Wayne? I’m not sure if they will even be able to relate to top hits UK right now," she added, according to Metro. "All up for cutting some shapes but I think £5 entry fee for £2 shots – they can be left to us youngsters and you guys have many more options to head to."
When I covered the Aquaman red carpet Talia storm walked it and then came out of the venue 20 mins later in trackies and a hoodie because she wasn’t deemed relevant enough to attend the screening. https://t.co/p8DjcgEy2z
— Elle Rudd 🌻 (@ElleRudd_) August 31, 2021
Next, she had a suggestion. "I think we should talk about perhaps a separate place for the over-50s and 60s to cut some shapes, but I'm just not sure that when we're having fun, we're dancing with our friends, that that environment for both of us is really in sync ... it's kinda cringy, it's kinda creepy, they're judging, they're staring at me and I just want to have some fun," she argued. While Blackburn lightheartedly suggested that a chain of exclusive clubs for older age groups would encourage those in their 80s and 90s to "dance away like mad," he felt that everyone should be allowed to go out and have a good time on the dance floor irrespective of their age.
Recalling a time when he played a set on Ibiza at the age of 60 and hit a trance club to have a blast, Blackburn said, "I don’t see why it should be that you’re over 40 and you can’t go to a club, it’s obviously ridiculous." Showing his support for Gove he explained that the senior MP was just "having fun" and people over 40s should be allowed to do the same. "If you took this to the extreme and banned people over the age of 40 from being in a club, how about those people in Ibiza, all the DJs there, they’re all over 40. Would you stop them from performing? It’s ridiculous," he said. "With all due respect, somebody of 22 years old, you’ve only got 18 years left so you’d better get on with it."
Probably more worried about your "Insta-friendly" image tbh...many over 40s like me still love clubs and love music (I'm a dj also)
— chiefkoala (@ChiefKoala) August 31, 2021
My nieces are the same age as you, we've been out clubbing together and we've all had a great time...🤨
Netizens seemed to side with the politician on this one; a social media poll during the debate showed that 84% of people believed people over 40 should not be banned from clubs. People also took to Twitter to share that age is only a number. "Ageism is an ugly look. Youth is fleeting my dear, it will fade but your ignorance will remain. I'm in my 58th year and will be clubbing till I'm 100!" wrote one. Another added, "I'm 45 and is still capable of having a great time, we could teach a few how to go clubbing at you're age. Our grans used to still dance at the town hall, a few nights a week up to their 90s, you're totally sounding ridiculous."
A third chimed in, "Ridiculous outrageous age is just a number I love dance music always have been raving for years totally stupid comment to say I am only enjoying myself like you we all have 1 life nobody should ever tell someone to stop enjoying themselves" But shortly after the interview aired, Storm tweeted that her mother is "about to kick" her out of the house for her views on the recent debate.
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Representative cover image source: Getty | Photo by Kseniya Starkova
