A disabled Beyoncé fan had her excitement quashed and was left feeling "humiliated" after being told she would not be allowed to bring her walker into the stadium. Dominique Glover, who suffers from Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) was "over the moon" to get her hands on tickets to Beyoncé's sold out Renaissance World Tour.
Dominique and a friend spent £120 on tickets for the Sunderland date of the global popstar's tour. As a result of her condition, which affects how the brain receives and sends information and creates constant pain in her legs, the 25-year-old relies on a walking stick or a walker to get around, as her legs often give out and she struggles with tremor.
Dominique, who lives in Stockton-on-Tees in County Durham, also has a wheelchair, but she tries to avoid using it so she is not relying on anyone else to push her. The Mirror reports that Dominique's friend got in touch with the Stadium of Light in advance to speak to the venue's accessibility team and see if her walker could be put in storage during Beyoncé's show.
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In an email seen by The Mirror, the accessibility team informed Dominique's friend that she would not be allowed to bring one because there is no where to store it and it could take up space in the aisle. Dominique, who cannot work due to her FND, said: "I was heartbroken to learn that I would not be accommodated. I physically cannot go if I don’t have my walker with me so I knew for definite that I could not attend.
"I felt humiliated and so much shame because of my condition I can’t attend a concert I’ve so desperately wanted to attend. Sadly this isn’t the first concert I’ve had to miss because of the venue not being accommodating."
Dominique shared that she was not able to see Haim last year with her friend Eleanor for the same reason. She said that knowing that other disabled people will not be able to see Beyoncé makes her feel "heartbroken".
"When at a concert you are able to forget your troubles, feel included, safe and part of a community for a short period of time," Dominique added. "No one should ever feel like they aren’t 'welcome' at a venue, let alone because you’re 'different'.
"As a fan, you should feel included no matter who you are. I just wanted to feel normal for once."
Due to her condition, Dominique barely leaves her house. She makes use of her wheelchair if it's going to take longer than five or ten minutes to reach her destination, but the downside of this is that someone else has to push her, which she "hates" as "it isn't fair on them".
It was Dominique's intention to store her walker in storage and use her walking stick in the venue. In an email sent to Dominique and seen by The Mirror, the accessibility team wrote: "Unfortunately, we have no facilities to store personal belongings such as Wheelchairs, electric scooters and Walkers.
"They are not permitted into the Stadium. Walking sticks are permitted, but walking frames cannot be left unattended which will cause blockage in the aisle.
"We must ensure it is kept clear in case of an evacuation emergency and Health and Safety."
Dominique was set to travel to the concert in Sunderland last night by herself because of "how excited she was" to see Beyoncé live. She said there "would be no way" she could have used only her walking stick for the whole concert, and would be "putting [herself] in harm's way" by doing so.
"In the age of 2023 no one should be discriminated against or turned away because they aren’t abled-bodied or different from 'social' norms," she said. "Also, imagine if I didn’t contact them and just turned up.
"I could understand if I was asking to have my walker with me while at the concert but all I wanted was a place to store it because I could then use my stick in the venue."
The Stadium of Light declined to comment when approached by the Mirror. BristolLive has approached the Stadium of Light for comment.
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