A cryptocurrency company at the center of a scandal involving diners eating sushi from semi-naked models is urgently investigating the event and its “embarrassing” consequences – and issuing a groveling apology.
Copper Technologies – which is chaired by former chancellor Philip Hammond – was thrust into the spotlight after photographs were leaked of the event which provided a flashback to the city’s debaucherous heyday in the 1980s.
It shows two models – a man and a woman wearing only thin bodysuits to protect their modesty – lying on a table as guests nibble on the festive food placed around them.
The event was held at the Mandrake Hotel in London earlier this month after Copper sponsored the Digital Assets Summit, and was an aftershow party for selected guests who attended the conference.
In a lengthy statement, Copper admitted the event was “embarrassing” and that a review was being conducted of the party which they said was organized by an “outside event planner.”
The image shows a group of men in the red-lacquered room of the five-star Mandrake Hotel in central London, with a partially naked man and woman lying motionless on the table in front of them.
The event was held at The Mandrake Hotel (pictured) in London earlier this month after Copper sponsored the Digital Assets Summit, and was an aftershow party for selected guests who attended the conference.
They pointedly ignored the fact that the models were surrounded by sushi, describing them as “performance artists” and adding that a “magician-mentalist and palm reader” was also present among other acts.
In the photos – taken in a red-lacquered room at the five-star Mandrake – a board is placed on their stomachs and a pillow under their heads.
Mr Hammond was not present at the event and half-naked sushi is also known as Nyotaimori and is dismissed as demeaning and objectifying.
In their statement, Copper said: ‘As you will have seen, several members of the media community today published an article about an event that Copper sponsored at the Mandrake Hotel last week.
The event took place in the hotel’s 20-seat private dining room, with a huge champagne fridge in the background. The hotel says the room is ‘Ideal for private gatherings, meetings, private dinners and events’
Guests line up for the launch of The Mandrake Hotel in London in September 2017
Former Chancellor of the Exchequer Lord Hammond did not attend the private event of Copper, a company that stores digital assets for its customers
“It is clear that the story is embarrassing and, in the context presented, inconsistent with our values as a company.
“We have always adhered to high ethical standards and want to champion the benefits of tokenization and digital assets.
‘The context of the event is important. As part of our sponsorship of the Digital Assets Summit 2024, we co-hosted this afterparty at the Mandrake Hotel with a digital assets partner.
‘The event was organized by an external event planner and a number of performance artists were present.
‘This included a magician, mentalist, palm reader and another performance featuring both a male and a female artist, each lying on a table in swimsuits.
‘The Mandrake Hotel was chosen because it is an art-themed establishment, owned by renowned art collector Rami Fatouk, with a long history of presenting such events.
‘The event was open to all delegates as part of the conference with the intention of creating an artistic expression appropriate to the location.
“Notwithstanding the above, we recognize that certain aspects of the event may have been offensive and do not reflect Copper’s corporate values.
“We will conduct an internal review of the existing process for approving events and sponsorship agreements and the value of such events to the business going forward.
“Copper’s senior leadership team is proactively reaching out to key customers, partners, investors and regulators.
“We did not properly understand this and we regret the distraction this may have caused to our broader mission of providing world-class digital asset custody and premium services to institutional investors.”
An invitation to the party, seen by the Financial Times, said: ‘Transcend the ordinary at the Copper experience. Participants can entertain and explore all five senses.”
The Mandrake declined to comment when contacted.