Justin Hemmes and his make-up free girlfriend Madeline Holtznagel enjoy a family holiday with his kids amid bombshell claims about the Merivale boss’ ‘secret’ Level 6 venue
As an ardent fan who has followed Justin Hemmes’ journey from the very beginning, I must say that the latest news about his hospitality empire, The Ivy, has left me utterly bewildered and slightly disheartened. Having admired his business acumen and entrepreneurial spirit for years, it’s a bitter pill to swallow when such allegations surface.
On Sunday, Justin Hemmes and his partner Madeline Holtznagel returned to Sydney in high spirits following a relaxing family getaway over the weekend.
The wealthy businessman from Merivale, aged 52, and his 27-year-old companion appeared deeply affectionate as they exited the exclusive airport terminal, concluding their lavish vacation.
The couple were seen doting over Justin’s daughters Alexa, six, and Saachi, five, who he shares with his model ex Kate Fowler.
During our outing, Justin appeared relaxed in a casual light-blue shirt, gently holding his little girl close, clearly demonstrating his loving role as a devoted father.
Simultaneously, Madeline opted for comfort in a roomy white shirt and shorts, carrying her necessities in a compact brown bag.
In simpler terms, Madeline, Simone Holtznagel’s younger sibling, showcased her genuine charm without makeup during her journeys, sporting a wide, radiant grin.
The location of their secret weekend getaway remains unknown, yet they journeyed luxuriously by taking a trip on Justin’s personal aircraft.
In 2019, Justin and Madeline started secretly dating. The previous year, he made his first appearance on the Financial Review Rich List, valued at approximately $951 million; a figure that’s now grown to over $1.39 billion.
After Justin finally spoke out, their recent journey took place following the revelation of shocking accusations concerning The Ivy in Sydney, a venue that’s part of his hospitality business.
The upscale nightclub, often visited by the wealthy elite, is under scrutiny due to accusations of sexual misconduct, inappropriate behavior, and grooming, as well as alleged instances where drug use went unchecked due to areas not covered by surveillance cameras.
In light of the emerging news, Justin communicated to approximately 5,000 of his team members expressing deep sadness over the accusations, as reported by The Sydney Morning Herald.
In the email to staffers, he vowed to take the ‘allegations against Merivale concerning our staff and our culture’ seriously.
He emphasized that they are treating this issue with utmost importance, as they unequivocally oppose, discourage, and will not tolerate any actions matching the claims made.
‘We will continue to work to address every allegation made within today’s article.’
He went on: ‘Utmost in my mind is my concern for all of you, and especially for the distress caused by the aspersions that have been cast on those who work and have worked in the past, at Merivale and within the hospitality industry in general.
‘I am overwhelmingly sad that today’s article broadly denigrates everything that we do.’
The Level 6 venue, which is situated within the Ivy-branded complex in Sydney’s Central Business District (CBD) and managed by the Merivale group, was described by an anonymous manager as being “almost like a brothel,” according to Nine newspapers.
Employees at an exclusive establishment, which charges an annual membership fee of $10,000, have come forward with accusations of sexual misconduct and coercion to satisfy the predominantly affluent male patrons.
Instead, the attractive young females, predominantly falling within the age range of 18-21 years old, working as ‘hosts’, were said to receive luxury Gucci bags and cash tips amounting to as much as $600 over the course of a few evenings.
A nameless team member disclosed to the employees at Nine that they were explicitly instructed not to decline a guest who offered to purchase them a beverage.
It was reported that when senior staff at Merivale were under the influence of alcohol or other substances, junior staff were often pressured to join them in drinking, making it challenging to refuse.
In a separate incident, a senior staff member allegedly forced himself on to a host so hard it winded her.
Additionally, it was alleged that a high-profile visitor forcefully escorted a staff member into the restroom for the purpose of using cocaine, and in the process, tore open their clothing.
When she brought up the matter with management, they supposedly responded: “Don’t worry too much. It’s in the past now, so just try to move forward.
James Henderson, formerly employed as a bartender at Ivy and Bar Totti’s under the Merivale group, expressed that the events taking place within these establishments were “extremely unpleasant” or “revolting.
According to Merivale, they took the accusations very seriously, yet they didn’t have any records pertaining to them on file.
They mentioned that they’ve selected prominent attorney Kate Eastman, SC, a specialist in human rights and discrimination law, to conduct an examination into claims of wrongdoing within the company.
Should any of these claims hold a shred of truth, let me express our deepest apologies for any inconvenience or discomfort this may have brought about,” stated Merivale.
In my professional opinion, I must clarify that contrary to allegations suggesting the company cultivated an environment that disadvantaged women or jeopardized employee safety, they have denied these assertions.
‘In all hospitality businesses, including Merivale’s, incidents occur involving both patrons and staff. There is no denying this,’ a spokesperson said.
Instead, let me rephrase it for a more conversational tone: “Merivale addresses complaints related to these situations based on their established rules, guidelines, and any applicable laws.
Merivale operates more than 70 hospitality venues across New South Wales and Victoria.
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2024-11-11 05:04