'Star Wars' Fan Wins Apology After Being Thrown Out of Job Center for Wearing Jedi Hood
"Star Wars" Jedi may not be the best interview attire inspiration. Photo: LucasFilm
It's the "Return of the Jedi"!
Well, sort of. Only instead of battling Darth Vader and his Stormtroopers, our Jedi hero has taken down... a UK job center. (Next stop: the Death Star.)
The JobCentre Plus in Southend, Essex, England has issued a formal apology after throwing out a "Star Wars"-obsessed job-seeker because he was wearing a Jedi-style hood, The Sun reports.
Chris Jarvis, a 31-year-old member of the International Church of Jediism (yes, it exists), reportedly refused to remove his hood at the center on the grounds that it conflicted with his religious beliefs, according to the paper.
"I was just standing up for my beliefs," the wannabe Luke Skywalker told The Sun. "Muslims can walk around in whatever religious gear they like, so why can't I?"
Fair enough. Unfortunately, the Empire job center struck back by reportedly calling security to escort Jarvis off the premises. Three days later, they wrote an apology.
"We are committed to provide a customer service which embraces diversity and respects customers' religion," representative Wendy Flewers told the paper.
Score one for the little guy! And by "little guy," we mean, of course, Yoda.
But not all will necessarily get a free pass to wear whatever they like in the future.
"Customers may be asked by Jobcentre staff to remove their helmets and hoods for security reasons," a spokesperson for the Department for Work and Pensions says.
Tough luck, Darth.
Meanwhile, check out David Beckham's "Star Wars"-inspired film for Adidas.
Tags: chris jarvis, dress code, hoods, international church of jediism, jedi, jobcentre plus, return of the jedi, star wars


