Behind the camera, she’s known as “CJ.”
Caitlyn Jenner—the Olympic gold medalist and ex-husband to the Kardashian matriarch formerly known by her birth name Bruce—stopped for a beer at Shady Jack’s, the biker bar by St. Louis’ riverfront, to film for the next season of her E! docu-series I Am Cait.
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With a gaggle of girlfriends, a frantic camera crew and former Kardashian boyfriend Scott Disick in tow, Jenner met friends who live nearby at the bar for a few laughs before hopping on a motorcycle (specially equipped with a GoPro camera) for a ride around the block.
Jenner, sporting a cropped leather jacket and pink top, wouldn’t allow interviews or media photos. She does, however, allow fans to take selfies with her, according to the reality TV crew that spent hours at Shady Jack’s preparing for her arrival by adding lights and tearing down anything with a Budweiser logo. Security guards halted any attempt to photograph or record Jenner, Disick or the entourage.
The bar’s regulars say it’s not often that Shady Jack’s plays host to a celebrity. Bands? Sure. Motorcycle clubs? Absolutely. Veterans groups? With pleasure. But customers mostly shrugged off any questions about seeing a transgender reality TV star in the dive bar’s hallowed halls.
“We don’t follow any of that,” said one regular who’d stopped in for Shady Jack’s Thursday special: a free combo pizza with the purchase of a bucket of beer.
Jenner didn’t stay long in St. Louis, and details of her trip were hidden to keep away the paparazzi who swarm her—especially now, as one crew member told me, “with everything that’s been going on.” After winning Glamor magazine’s 2015 Woman of the Year award, Jenner has been criticized by actress Rose McGowan and the husband of former Woman of the Year award winner Moira Smith, who died on September 11 while rescuing people from the Twin Towers.
The Shady Jack’s visit didn’t last long—just enough for a drink and a quick motorcycle ride. What does Jenner’s entourage order? “Lots of vodka, and a couple of beers,” according to the bartender. One of those beers was for Jenner. Disick, who only recently returned to the tabloid circuit after time in rehab, stuck to water.
Contact Lindsay Toler by an email at [email protected] or on Twitter @StLouisLindsay. For more from St. Louis Magazine, subscribe or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
