Oscar-winner Dustin Lance Black took to social media this weekend to vent his frustration after getting turned away from a diving event where husband Tom Daley was competing.
Daley and Black, who married in 2017, welcomed their first child, Robert, last year. This past weekend, Black took young Robert to the London Aquatic Centre to see Daley dive. Venue officials claim they refused to let Black enter because he had his son in a stroller. Black disputes this claim.
Black wasted no time in taking to Twitter to slam the policy. “Sadly, organisers [sic] at @britishswimming have succeeded in creating a toxic environment for our family at their events so we can’t be there in person on this very special London morning,” Black tweeted. “If you are there, please give a big cheer for our @TomDaley1994 for us.” Daley ended up scoring a gold medal in the competition.
Sadly, organisers at @britishswimming have succeeded in creating a toxic environment for our family at their events so we can’t be there in person on this very special London morning. If you are there, please give a big cheer for our @TomDaley1994 for us! ?
— Dustin Lance Black (@DLanceBlack) May 19, 2019
After Daley’s win, Black again returned to Twitter to express his pride in his husband and his frustration with the organizers of the event. “We are so proud of him!” Black said. “And want more than anything to be there, but some rather cruel, thoughtless @britishswimming organisers [sic] have created a situation that is neither safe nor welcoming for our family.” The British Swimming organization claimed in a statement that the group had forbidden Black to enter because he had his son in a stroller, which raised health and safety concerns.
We are so proud of him! And want more than anything to be there, but some rather cruel, thoughtless @britishswimming organisers have created a situation that is neither safe nor welcoming for our family. https://t.co/rcrgIP0Od0
— Dustin Lance Black (@DLanceBlack) May 19, 2019
As of May 20, Black tweeted that the British Swimming organizers and the family had decided to make amends in private. He also hotly disputed that he had his son in a stroller–something which several fans in attendance also corroborated. Black claims he held Robbie in his lap.
Related: Tom Daley and Dustin Lance Black “shocked” by haters, can’t believe people aren’t happy for them
“This situation had little to nothing to do with a pram,” Black claimed in a tweet. “I never asked to bring one in, and we certainly had no interest in being poolside with one. Anyone there plainly saw that our son was on my lap. This pram story is a lie @britishswimming is telling.”
This situation had little to nothing to do with a pram. I never asked to bring one in, and we certainly had no interest in being poolside with one. Anyone there plainly saw that our son was on my lap. This pram story is a lie @britishswimming is telling. https://t.co/7kGB14NO2b
— Dustin Lance Black (@DLanceBlack) May 20, 2019
At the time of this writing, Black has yet to fully detail the exact reasons he and his son were ejected from the diving match.
