The Flag Market at Preston

A Twerk-a-Thon event, in which a world record attempt was expected to be broken, has been postponed until further notice.

The event, which was being hosted as part of Preston Caribbean Carnival 2015, had been given the go ahead by Preston City Council. It was expected to help raise the funds required to host Preston Caribbean Carnival.

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However it was not received well by one resident.

Dionne Thomas issued a formal complaint to the council, urging the cancellation of the event and cited it as “offensive to both women and the people from a Caribbean culture” and said, “Black people, Caribbean culture and women are of value and this event demeans and disgraces them all.”

Speaking to Blog Preston, Dionne said, “I was just browsing through Facebook and I noticed the event on there.

“Initially it didn’t bother me all too much. I think the issue for me was 1 – they are claiming it’s a cultural event which I can understand with the roots and background to the dance itself but that’s not how it’s being portrayed at all.”

“Nobody seems to have thought about just basic safety for the girls.”

She added that showcasing the event in public puts the girls in a very vulnerable position, and doesn’t agree with the notion of making money from it.

“You have called it a Twerk-a-thon. That doesn’t say culture to me.”

Preston Caribbean Carnival have written to Preston City Council in response to the complaint by Ms Thomas.

They insist the Twerk-a-Thon will go ahead at a time to be confirmed.