Incident at Melbourne Strip Club Leads to Job Loss
A man who gained sudden notoriety online after being filmed allegedly throwing a chair and injuring a colleague outside a Melbourne strip club is no longer employed by the furniture company where he held an executive position.
Tony Rogers, 58, was at Bar 20 on January 30 when a bartender told him and a coworker to “open a f***ing beer,” according to reports. When security was called, both men were asked to leave, but they refused. Eventually, they were forcibly removed to St. Paul’s Walkway.
In a fit of anger, Rogers entered a nearby restaurant, grabbed a chair, and threw it, likely in a moment of frustration. Unfortunately, the chair struck his colleague in the head, rendering him unconscious.
Both men were employees of Vereinigte Spezialmöbelfabrike (VS), a prominent German furniture manufacturer that specializes in producing furniture for educational institutions and offices.
VS acknowledged the situation in a statement, emphasizing that they are taking it “extremely seriously.” Reports indicate that Rogers’s employment has been terminated following an internal review in accordance with company protocols.
A spokesperson for the company stated, “While the incident occurred during non-business hours and was not work-related, such behavior is unacceptable and contrary to our values and the standards we expect from our employees.” They added that both individuals expressed regret and recognized a significant lapse in professional judgment.
Rogers had served as a sales director at VS and has extensive experience in the furniture sector. Before joining the German company, he spent over 17 years as a director and general manager for Woods Furniture. After two years in his recent role, he joined the board in August 2025. He also served as a director and vice-chairman of the Australian Furniture Association.
The video of the incident has reportedly been viewed by over 27 million people.
Ongoing Investigation by Police
On Friday, police spoke with Rogers. The Victoria Police Licensing Unit is investigating the January 30 altercation. Following the incident, it’s reported that the two men left on foot as the situation calmed down.
When questioned about potential fines for Rogers, a police spokesperson indicated that an infringement notice is expected to be issued at a later date.
Investigators are still in the process of reaching out to his colleagues, encouraging them to come forward for questioning.
Details from Bar 20’s Co-owner
Days later, Michael Trimble, co-owner of Bar 20, revealed it took about eight minutes to escort the men out. The affair began just before 9:30 p.m. when Rogers entered the bar with a colleague visiting from Germany. Staff reported that the men were aggressive from the start.
Trimble recounted that when the bar manager attempted to serve them, Rogers made an inappropriate remark, causing her to hesitate in her duties. When a bartender showed reluctance in serving, Rogers yelled, demanding his drink.
Security personnel were called to handle the situation, but the men resisted leaving. Once outside, tensions escalated. Rogers momentarily grabbed a bollard as if he might use it as a weapon before ultimately changing his approach.
Interestingly, Rogers’s colleague returned to the front door to apologize for his actions, only to be met with aggression when Rogers threw a chair at him, striking him in the back of the head and knocking him out. According to Trimble, one of the security guards couldn’t help but laugh at the unfolding chaos.
Reflecting on the incident, Trimble noted that while he often sees patrons act foolishly, he never anticipated that this particular occurrence would gain such widespread attention.
