A Beyoncé fan says she has been left "humiliated" after not being able to attend her concert because the stadium won't let her bring her walker - because it would 'block the aisle'.
Dominique Glover, 25, who suffers from a neurological disorder, was "over the moon" when she managed to get tickets to Beyoncé's sold-out Renaissance tour.
She and her friend Eleanor paid £120 each to see the popstar in Sunderland tonight at the Stadium of Light.
Dominique, from Stockton, suffers from Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), which affects how the brain receives and sends information to the rest of the body. She says it creates constant pain her legs.
She says her legs tend to give out and struggles with tremors, and relies on a walking stick or a walker that has a seat.
She also has a wheelchair and says it requires someone to push her, which she tries to avoid so that she isn't relying on anyone else.
Dominique, who is not at work due to her condition, had her friend contact the venue's accessibility team ahead of time to find out if she could store her walker at the stadium.
In an email seen by the Mirror, they replied saying she isn't allowed to bring one because there is nowhere to store it and it could take up space in the aisle.
Dominique told the Mirror: "I was heartbroken to learn that I would not be accommodated. I physically cannot go if I don’t have my walker with me so I knew for definite that I could not attend.
"I felt humiliated and so much shame because of my condition I can’t attend a concert I’ve so desperately wanted to attend.
"Sadly this isn’t the first concert I’ve had to miss because of the venue not being accommodating. I had to miss seeing Haim last year with Eleanor.
"Knowing that it’s not just me and people with disabilities that won’t be able to attend makes me heartbroken.
"When at a concert you are able to forget your troubles, feel included, safe and part of a community for a short period of time.
"No one should ever feel like they aren’t 'welcome' at a venue, let alone because you’re 'different'.
"As a fan, you should feel included no matter who you are."
She added: "I just wanted to feel normal for once."
Dominique said she hardly leaves the house because of her condition.
She said: "I use a wheelchair if it’s longer than a five to ten-minute walk, but the downside to that is that it isn’t a self-push chair so I’m relying on people to push me in the chair.
"I rarely go out because of this, I’d hate to have to have someone have to push me it isn’t fair on them.
"I asked my friend, Eleanor to make sure that they are an accessibility venue and that I could leave my walker with them and then use my walking stick in the venue."
In an email seen by the Mirror, the Beyoncé accessible team wrote: "Unfortunately, we have no facilities to store personal belongings such as Wheelchairs, electric scooters and Walkers. They are not permitted into the Stadium.
"Walking sticks are permitted, but walking frames cannot be left unattended which will cause blockage in the aisle. We must ensure it is kept clear in case of an evacuation emergency and Health and Safety.”
Dominique is devastated she cannot attend Beyonce's Renaissance tour.
She added: "I rarely leave the house because of my conditions and when I do leave it’s never alone. Because of how excited I was for Beyoncé I was going to be travelling solo, which is difficult for me. I can’t not use my aids, there would be no way I could’ve just used my stick the whole night.
"I would be putting myself in harm's way by doing that and it just isn’t worth the risk."
She added: "In the age of 2023 no one should be discriminated against or turned away because they aren’t abled-bodied or different from 'social' norms.
"Also imagine if I didn’t contact them and just turned up!
"I could understand if I was asking to have my walker with me while at the concert but all I wanted was a place to store it because I could then use my stick in the venue."
The Stadium of Light declined to comment when approached by the Mirror.
