The Presidents Club: My time undercover at a men-only event | FT Investigation

Summary

Madison Marriage, a reporter for the Financial Times, goes undercover at a secretive charity dinner in London, exclusively for men, held at the Dorchester Hotel. With a history of poor treatment towards hostesses, she aims to expose the event's atmosphere and behavior. The dinner raises substantial funds, often featuring high-profile guests from business and media. Madison shares her experiences of the night, highlighting the shocking conduct of some attendees and the overall environment of the event, raising important questions about gender dynamics and the treatment of women in these exclusive settings.

Takeaways

• 🎤 Madison Marriage, a reporter for the Financial Times, goes undercover at a secretive all-male charity dinner at the Dorchester Hotel in London.
• 🚫 Women are not allowed as guests at this event, highlighting issues of exclusivity and gender inequality.
• 📅 The dinner has been held annually for over 30 years, featuring prominent figures from various sectors including business and sports.
• 👥 Madison learned about the event from a friend who worked as a waitress and had heard warnings from former hostesses about the difficult working conditions.
• 💰 The event reportedly raises significant funds, with past auctions including luxury items and exclusive experiences that generate millions.
• 😱 Many male attendees exhibited coarse and shocking behavior, raising concerns about the culture at the event.
• 🛠️ Madison used hidden recording devices to document the interactions and atmosphere at the charity dinner.
• 📋 The evening involved around 230 women working alongside more than 300 men, illustrating a stark gender imbalance.
• 🕒 After a long shift, Madison reflected on the troubling behavior she witnessed and the broader implications for women's treatment in such environments.
• 🔍 This undercover investigation calls into question the ethics of charitable events that thrive on funds raised through such controversial means.

Q & A

What is the primary purpose of the undercover investigation?

The primary purpose is to witness firsthand the treatment of hostesses at a secretive charity dinner for men only, held annually at the Dorchester Hotel in London.

Who provided the initial information about the charity dinner?

The initial information came from a friend of the reporter, who does waitressing and hostessing jobs and learned about the event from women who had previously worked there.

Why did former hostesses warn the reporter against working at this event?

Former hostesses warned against it due to reports of being badly treated during their time working at the event.

What does the guest list of the event typically include?

The guest list typically includes some of the most important names in business, finance, sports, and media.

How long has the event been running?

The event has been running for over 30 years.

What preparations did the reporter make before attending the event?

The reporter prepared by renting a room at a nearby hotel to serve as a base camp for preparing equipment and herself before heading to the Dorchester.

What kind of recording device did the reporter plan to use?

The reporter planned to hide a recording device on herself to capture the events of the evening.

What was the atmosphere like during the event according to the reporter?

The atmosphere was described as initially coarse, but quickly escalated to behavior that was shocking and inappropriate.

What was the reported financial outcome of the evening?

The event reportedly raised over two million pounds through auctions for items such as Range Rovers and sports cars.

What personal reflections did the reporter share after the event?

The reporter reflected on feeling exhausted after a long shift and indicated that the behavior witnessed at the event was disturbing.