1. HAMPTONS CATERER DENIES IT GAVE SERVERS OPTION TO SKIP TRUMP FUND-RAISERS: Hamptons-based catering company Elegant Affairs catered three fund-raisers last weekend, including two for President Donald Trump and one for cosmetic surgeon Andrew Jacono at the home of Hollywood hairdresser Sally Hershberger. A server told the Hollywood Reporter the catering company contracted servers before fund-raisers to ask if they had moral issues with working the Trump events. Elegant Affairs denied the conversations took place. The Hollywood Reporter: “‘Many of the other waiters chose not to work, but even though I'm liberal, I thought it would be interesting,’ said one young waitress-actress at the Hershberger event who served guests at the fund-raisers. ‘I didn't like the fact that there were MAGA hats, but I was surprised at how nice everyone was.'”
2. LONDON FASHION WEEK WILL HAVE PUBLIC SHOWS: London Fashion Week is normally an exclusive event, but for the first time, the public will be able to attend certain shows. The British Fashion Council announced House Of Holland and Self-Portrait will stage public shows during three time slots in September. The new public-facing shows aim to make the event more accessible, and participating designers will change every season. Harper’s Bazaar: “While the trade audience will attend a different schedule of catwalk shows and presentations across five days between September 13-17, the public will be able to take part in an immersive fashion-week experience at the official London Fashion Week Hub. This will include catwalk shows, creative installations, industry-led panel talks and much more, offering an exclusive insight into the fashion industry.”
3. MENTAL HEALTH GROUP PULLS OUT OF POLICE EVENT OVER BLUE LIVES MATTER SPONSORSHIP: ThriveNYC, a mental health organization backed by Chirlane McCray, wife of Mayor Bill de Blasio, has dropped out of an event for first responders after learning that pro-cop group Blue Lives Matter was a co-sponsor. The event, which aims to train police in recognizing signs of depression, was initially going to be staffed with counselors from ThriveNYC. New York Post: “Councilman Joe Borelli said his office was approached in June by Blue Lives Matter about setting up mental health programs for cops, and at first Thrive jumped at the chance to take part. That enthusiasm plummeted when Borelli’s office showed Thrive higher-ups the event flyer, which featured the program’s logo alongside that of Blue Lives Matter, said Borelli chief of staff Frank Mascia. Blue Lives Matter, formed in the aftermath of the fatal 2014 ambush of NYPD officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu, is regarded as a controversial group by some for its juxtaposition to Black Lives Matter.”