Night Club in Virginia Beach VA

UPDATE — From, June 6, Pusha T appeared to have received an apology from management at Venue 112.

The statement maintained the club’s previous position — that it has never discriminated due to race, religion or sexual orientation — but offered an apology, if their door policy had come across as offensive. The last paragraph of the statement reads as follows:

@kingpush I’m sorry I offended you it was not my intent and I apologize. I know you will find many people in our community who will vouch for the content of my character. I meant you no disrespect. If you wold ever like to give Venue112 another chance let me know and I will happily accommodate you. Thank you and God bless, Jon Lindsay.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — A series of Instagram and Twitter posts by hip hop recording artist Pusha T started a social media firestorm over a sports bar and nightclub in Virginia Beach.

— Pharrell Williams (@Pharrell)

On Tuesday, Terrence Thornton, (also known as Pusha T, or one half of hip hop duo Clipse) told his more-than-one-million followers: “Venue Sports Lounge on Great Neck Road wins the award for most racist establishment in the 757.”

The Tweet came after Thornton, a Virginia Beach native, was denied entry around midnight Monday to the club, which also goes by Venue 112. He told WAVY’s Nicole Livas on Tuesday, “White males and females walked in before us … we were there first, and we had to wait.” And then they weren’t even let inside.

Pusha T said he was approaching the door at Venue 112 with a friend in front of him, who had already received a wristband from one of two bouncers. That’s when he said a club manager or owner leaned over and whispered to the other bouncer, “tell them we’re doing guest list only.”

Listen to Nicole Livas’ full interview with Pusha T in the audio player below:

Critics of Venue 112 argue “guest list only” is the club’s less confrontational way of keeping out African Americans. Pusha T said he didn’t see a guest list and no one in his group was even asked their names, but somehow they weren’t on the preferred list.