Videos Of Sex Acts At Hoboken Bar Allegedly On Internet (Update)

HOBOKEN, NJ — More details have been revealed regarding alleged videos of “extremely graphic, lewd acts” at a Hoboken bar that made the rounds on social media this past week, authorities said.

Photos on social media showed a partially nude woman sitting on a bar with her legs spread, being touched by at least one man. Women were allegedly groped and penetrated with bottles during the heavily-attended event, NBC 4 reported.

A promotional Facebook post for the Sept. 8 event stated that it featured “Monthly Resident Host KIRILL,” aka the @SlutWhisperer.

Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla called the sex acts that allegedly took place on Saturday, Sept. 8 at the Hudson Ultra Bar at 16 Hudson Place – also known as The HUB – “an affront to human decency.” He added that the allegations are a “horrific objectification of women” and vowed that he will use all his official powers to make sure that it never happens again.

Police Chief Ken Ferrante released details Thursday about the allegations facing The HUB:

“On Sunday, September 9, the Hoboken Police Department was made aware of social media activity that was showing videos from incidents that had occurred inside The HUB (Hudson Ultra Bar at 16 Hudson Place) from late Saturday into early Sunday morning. The alleged activity occurred during a promotion called ‘Supreme Saturdays at HUB.’ According to the preliminary investigation, the promoter hired by The HUB that night is known as #theslutwhisperer, who has millions of viewers on social media. The Hoboken Police Alcohol Beverage Control Unit Investigators (ABC Unit), along with Hoboken Police Detectives, immediately began reviewing videos and comments from open source, social media. The videos obtained depict extremely graphic, lewd acts.”

Ferrante said that after reviewing videos and other records, investigators determined that ABC violations took place at the bar.

On Tuesday, city officials hit The HUB with 15 charges, including multiple counts of “assault, lewd activity and acts of violence.”

• See related article: Hoboken Bar May Have License Yanked; Claims Of 'Lewd Activity'

HUB: ‘DEPLORABLE AND UNFORTUNATE’

The HUB posted a social media message apologizing for the alleged sex acts and ABC violations on Wednesday.

The HUB wrote:

“On behalf of management, ownership, staff and all involved in our business, we would like to extend a sincere apology for the deplorable and unfortunate incident that took place on the evening of Saturday, September 8. The actions of the individuals are by no means behavior we allow, permit nor promote. The individuals involved were escorted out by management and security. We have allocated all of our resources and administrative personnel to this matter, in an effort to comply with the Hoboken PD and NJ Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Further, we are taking all necessary measures to prevent anything of this nature from occurring again.”

Teak On The Hudson LLC, also known as The HUB, will have a chance to be heard by the ABC Board during its meeting on October 25. A final ruling on the license has not yet been made, but if the city’s mayor has anything to say about it, The HUB’s owners face an uphill battle.

“I have directed the ABC prosecutor to vigorously seek the permanent revocation of HUB’s liquor license, the severest penalty available under the law,” Bhalla said.

“Let this response serve to warn other bar owners that my administration will not tolerate this sort of behavior," the mayor continued. "This is not what Hoboken is about, it is not what the people of Hoboken deserve, and I simply will not allow it to happen again under my watch.”

City officials had originally slated The HUB's hearing with the Hoboken Board of Alcoholic Beverage Control for September 20. That hearing was later adjourned to October 25.

In exchange, the license holder of The HUB agreed to remain closed pending the outcome of the hearing, city officials said.

• See related article: Hoboken Sees Boozing, Brawling, Urinating Santa Invasion
• See related article: Hoboken Suspends 5 Bars From 2018 LepreCon Pub Crawl
• See related article: Hoboken Bar, Restaurant Owners Unite Under New NJLBA Chapter

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