Party photographer Kirill Bichutsky mocks detractors after cancelled gig
The controversial New York City party photographer barred from an appearance at a downtown Halifax restaurant this weekend has released a statement admonishing those in the city who didn't want him to cover the event.
Photographer Kirill Bichutsky, who goes by the moniker Kirill Was Here, was to appear at The Argyle Grill and Bar on Saturday for a party organized by the This is After Dark entertainment company.
The bar owner pulled the plug on Bichutsky's appearance after fielding an "outburst" of phone calls and emails about the content of the photographer's Twitter account, which includes misogynistic tweets. The event will still go on, but without Bichutsky.
Bichutsky sent his statement to CBC News and attached it to a post on his Twitter account late Monday evening.
"I wanna offer my sincere apologies to all the fun people of Halifax that were excited to come party with me!" he wrote.
"It's truly disappointing that people in your community who don't go out to party have taken it upon themselves to save you from me. They have taken away your choice to party with me by forcing the nightclub to cancel my gig."
Bichutsky travels to nightclubs around the world taking photos of party-goers. His website, blog and Twitter account include pictures of naked, inebriated women.
'You threw up your jiggly arms'
In his statement, Bichutsky went on to describe himself as an "ugly Russian Jew who likes to go to parties and take photos of hot girls."
"The rule of comedy is make fun of everything or make fun of nothing," he said.
Bichutsky said the women he takes photos of are in charge of their own decisions, adding the people protesting his scheduled appearance in Halifax are the problem - and not him.
"Grow up, you're acting like a fat chick: you threw up your jiggly arms and banned me from your city!" he wrote.
"Or is it the fact that I pour champagne on girls? Yes, how horrible: Happy, smiling, laughing girls willingly asking me to pour champagne on them."
Chris Tzaneteas, the owner of The Argyle, said Monday he didn't know who Bichutsky was until he started getting phone calls and saw the photographer's tweets for himself.
"We're against anything this guy is for," said Tzaneteas.
"Even his name on Twitter is Slut Whisperer.… He's just bad news."
CBC News spoke to Lee Fraser, the head of the This is After Dark entertainment company, on Tuesday morning. He says he is unable to answer questions until he sends out a press release later today.
"We're dealing with management, we're dealing with a lot of different variables in this case," he said.
"A lot of people are pissed off."
