Recently, a "Boycott Paparazzi" group was started on Facebook in response to a growing number of complaints from current and former patrons who disagree with the way the owners run the bar and some of the changes that have come to Paparazzi. Unfortunately, that group is now secret or has been deleted, so I can't pull up their group description, however, the owners themselves, for better or worse, have gone public in calling people out for "attacking" them and posted a screenshot of the group, which created quite a stir both on the club's page and the owners' personal pages.
There have been quite a few controversial moments in the last few months involving the owners, Attila Bassett, Helina Kinnersley and Terry Bex, and various patrons, and this latest episode seems to have convinced them to sell the bar and just wash their hands of the whole thing.
https://www.facebook...200248719846560Attila Bassett
December 26th at 9:06 PM near Esquimalt, British Columbia
I'm sick and tired of what certain people have done to me and my family ,"Paparazzi is FOR SALE" you all can have what it use to be back , I'm done with your crap, shame on you , as for the latest I will hand it over to a lawyer , this will be dealt with , shame on you for ruining my Christmas !!!
There aren't many people prepared to take the step to run a nightclub, let alone a gay one, especially in Victoria.
If Attila is really thinking of selling, the closure of Paparazzi has pretty big implications for Victoria's LGBT community. It would mean the loss of Victoria's only gay nightclub (not counting the Ledge and Castle Video Bar, as they aren't nightclubs), and, worse yet, it has functioned as an important gathering place for LGBT people, especially youth, who seek refuge and a safe space. So I'd say there's more at stake than the loss of "just another club".
Thoughts?