Pretty in China to host benefit for survivors of sexual assault

Update, April 15: Tuesday evening Veselina Karakoleva, who does booking for The Granary, contacted EW to discuss the promotional material and the new event.

“I am so grateful that people called. It was such a shock,” Karakoleva says about people contacting The Granary after seeing the controversial party flier. Karakoleva says neither she nor The Granary saw the flier before it was distributed. The Granary and Pretty in China canceled the event and in its place will be hosting a benefit for local nonprofit SASS, or Sexual Assault Support Services. All door proceeds and a percentage of dinner special sales will go to SASS.

“I decided it was the best way,” Karakoleva says.”We wanted to show the community what we stand for.”

She adds in an email that HUB on Campus Eugene, who’s logo was featured on the flier, will be handing out ribbons at the event and “joining our efforts in making this evening a successful benefit for victims of sexual assault.”

This morning, EW spoke with Samantha Nash, a public relations associate for Pretty in China, the local event company whose party promotional material caused a stir around Eugene and the UO campus yesterday.

Yesterday, EW blogged about the the flier in question, promoting a party at The Granary April 16, featured a woman laying face down, seemingly passed out, surrounded by a couple beer cups.

“It was just a mistake,” Nash says. “We really did not intend for it to be tied to any sort of sexual assault.” She continues, “We are definitely going to be more sensitive about it in the future,” adding that the company took the backlash “very seriously.”

“Immediately, we were like, it has to be canceled.”

In the event’s place, Pretty in China will host a benefit to raise awareness for sexual assault and domestic abuse 9 pm Thursday, April 16, at The Granary. Nash says all event profits will be donated.

“Any money we make will be donated to survivors of sexual assault and domestic abuse,” she says.

For more information about the event visit its Facebook page.

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