Latest cheeky Penthouse sign gets Vancouver nightclub suspended from X

Vancouver Sun ^ | Jan 09, 2025 | Sarah Grochowski

[Miami Rebel]

The first thing Benjamin Jackson did upon arriving in Vancouver on Wednesday morning after spending the holidays in Hamilton was change the marquee outside The Penthouse strip club, where he works as bar manager.

“As soon as I dropped my bags at home, I walked straight to the club to update the sign around 2 a.m.”

During his layover in Toronto, the 43-year-old spent time watching the news and brainstorming his next sign idea. What he didn’t know was that his late-night inspiration would make headlines of its own.

Jackson changed the letters on the marquee to spell out: “Forever neighbours, never neighbors.” The message — highlighting the difference in the way Canadians and Americans spell certain words — was a swipe at U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s repeated suggestion that Canada could become the 51st state.

Within hours, an image of the new sign posted to the strip club’s X account was flagged as potentially hateful content, resulting in the account, @ThePenthouse604, being suspended that night.

“I was blown away,” he said Thursday.

Originally from Ontario, Jackson has worked at the Penthouse since 2015. These days, he is also the social media manager.

For the past seven years, he has climbed a ladder outside the downtown club at 1019 Seymour St. each month to craft a new one-liner that is limited to 40 characters on its marquee.

While some of his messages have earned the business widespread acclaim on social media, others have sparked controversy.

“It all started as me trying to make my friends at work laugh,” Jackson said.

In 2017, after creating a message outside the Penthouse that read: “We take off more than WestJet,” the Canadian airline sent the club a cease-and-desist letter, demanding that the public proclamation be taken down.

[Miami Rebel]

A humorous twist on the annexation story. And proof yet again that The Free Speech Absolutist is a fraud.

[bk1000]

“Potentially hateful”

Where do these snowflakes come from?

[Responsibility2nd]

I suspect there is more to this banning than is being reported.

That said - yes, there is still censorship on X. Censorship is prevalent everywhere. Even here at Free Republic.

[Red Badger]

>>>>“We take off more than WestJet,” the Canadian airline sent the club a cease-and-desist letter, demanding that the public proclamation be taken down.<<<<<

LOL!.....................

[JusPasenThru]

I don’t know that it’s fraudulent, but no ‘reasonable’ person (ie. a non-progressive) would find that hateful. I’d like to know why it was censored. Censorship is wrong. The fact that we’re used to it and sick of it is no excuse for censoring others.

[Red Badger]

“We take off more than WestJet,” the Canadian airline sent the club a cease-and-desist letter, demanding that the public proclamation be taken down.

AVIATION (sort of!) Ping!..............

[ProtectOurFreedom]

LOL...now that is a STRETCH!!

[Jamestown1630]

What was wrong with the WestJet one???

[Red Badger]

They were ‘offended’...................

[1Old Pro]

Jackson changed the letters on the marquee to spell out: “Forever neighbours, never neighbors.” The message — highlighting the difference in the way Canadians and Americans spell certain words — was a swipe at U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s repeated suggestion that Canada could become the 51st state.

HUH? The new wording makes NO sense to me, that's probably why they banned the guy for being an idiot.

[paulcissa]

The wonderful din of cracking egg shells.

[wildcard_redneck]

"Censorship is prevalent everywhere. Even here at Free Republic."

Yes there is and the mods never give ann explanation when they do it for reasons other than profanity. They just delete your comments and suspend your account with no explanation. It really sucks. It is too much trouble for the mods to explain themselves in a couple of sentences as they censor you. It is both lazy and totalitarian.

The mods had a real problem with these two Musk tweets and my comments containing them were removed for "profanity" when I was reporting what Musk himself said to MAGA. Let's see how long this comment stays up.

[PeterPrinciple]

— was a swipe at U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s repeated suggestion that Canada could become the 51st state.

---

It was pro Cananda as I read it and think the Canadians would.

so who exactly is offended? Maybe Justin?

[Responsibility2nd]

The mods had a real problem with these two Musk tweets and my comments containing them were removed for “profanity” when I was reporting what Musk himself said to MAGA. Let’s see how long this comment stays up.

_________________________________

I may be confusing you with Wildcat Redneck, but I see you crossing the line quite often.

Believe me, I’ve gotten a Masters Degree in pissing off the moderators and have had numerous Time Outs to show for it.

But I’ve come to learn that those who abuse their rights often lose their rights. There are certain benefits to censorship. We deal with it.

[AndyJackson]

ven here at Free Republic.

Really? Zeepers are free to post utter trash and nonsense without interruption.

[bray]

Please explain what it means?

[freefdny]

It’s ridiculous It’s all just theatre. I mean theater.

[DeplorablePaul]

I wouldn’t mind if Trump annexed Canada if he could do it without the Canadians. It’s not well known, but Canada’s standard of living is below our poorest state. We don’t need another welfare dependent Puerto Rico.

[Miami Rebel]

Canadians want to remain as good “neighbours” to the U.S. They don’t wish to become “americanized,” hence the contrast in spelling.

[cableguymn]

The first thing Benjamin Jackson did upon arriving in Vancouver on Wednesday morning after spending the holidays in Hamilton was change the marquee outside The Penthouse strip club, where he works as bar manager.

that would be the last thing that “manager” did at my business.