Karl Stefanovic was left outraged after a mother-of-two was denied entry into the Gold Coast’s Burleigh Pavilion on Saturday over three small tattoos.
The Today Show anchor, 48, who himself has a number of tattoos, was left flabbergasted as he spoke to Katie Hally on Tuesday.
Despite being out with a group of friends to celebrate a 45th birthday, Katie was called back down the stairs after the bouncer spotted her ‘inappropriate’ ink.
‘Do you think they were just having a bad day because I think Burleigh Pavilion is one of the best venues on the Goldie?’ Karl said, trying to make sense of the blunder.
Karl went on to say he has been to the venue a ‘bazillion’ times and seen ‘plenty of ink’ on patrons.
Karl offered the light-hearted explanation it might have been due to how good Katie looked on the night.
‘Do you reckon it was just they didn’t like how good you looked or something?’ he said, joking with his guest.
A mild-mannered Katie joked she would have ‘accepted that’ but she herself was still puzzled why she was denied entry.
‘That would be nice. He could have just said that ”you look too hot, you’re not allowed in today” but yeah I’m not sure,’ she said.
Ms Hally explained she even offered to put a jacket on to cover her small tattoos, but was told that would still be unacceptable.
Today star Karl Stefanovic, 48, has let rip over Gold Coast woman Katie Hally being barred from Burleigh Pavilion due to three small tattoos on the breakfast show on Tuesday. Pictured
Karl attempted to put the refusal of entry down to a possible security guard having a bad day. Katie was denied entry over three small neck tattoos of Chinese symbols. Pictured: Karl, Sarah Abo, and Katie
‘I had a jacket over my arm which I offered to put on and yeah. I wasn’t allowed to do that either, so I don’t know,’ she said, confused.
Karl went on to call that ‘crazy’ saying it was ‘probably just one security guard having a bad day’ on the night.
He went on to ask Katie if she planned on going back to the venue.
‘I did actually did go back that day. I went home, got changed, and went back again with my only collared shirt that I own,’ she said.
Katie explained the security guard barely gave her a second look when she returned to the beach-side location.
Katie made headlines after she was forced to go home on Saturday to change into a collared shirt after she was refused entry into Burleigh Pavilion over its tattoo policy. Pictured
Ms Hally offered to put her jacket on but she claims the bouncer she refused her request. Katie was forced to change before returning to the venue to celebrate her friend’s birthday
‘I was allowed in. The security guard didn’t give me a second look. I was like ”hey, take two” and he just looked at me like ”what are you on about?”’
Karl joked his own questionable tattoos haven’t been a problem for him in the past.
‘If you’re going to get denied for rubbish ink work on your body, I’m not going to be allowed anywhere, ever again,’ he said.
Karl said he planned to get in contact with the Burleigh Pavilion to see what can be done to allow Katie back into the venue.
‘We’ll have a chat to the Burleigh Pavilion and see if we can get you back in there as it’s a great location. I love it there,’ he said.
Katie, however, said she just considered the entire experience a bit crazy.
‘I do just think it’s a bit crazy. They’re not rough tattoos. Even people with rough tattoos are still beautiful people. Bit of a shame.’
Burleigh Pavilion’s tattoo policy says guests with tattoos are allowed to enter, unless they are ‘intimidating, aggressive or offensive’. Pictured
