Grammy and Oscar Nominee Declines Party Invitation Due to Sharia Law

John Legend performs
R&B star John Legend has refused to attend a
party given in his honor at the Beverly Hills Hotel.
Image:  JStone / Shutterstock.com
R&B singer John Legend refused to attend a party held in his honor at the Beverly Hills Hotel Pink Crystal Ballroom after learning that the company owner, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, supports Sharia law in his home country of Brunei.  Sharia law allows for the stoning of those found guilty of adultery (predominantly women) or homosexuality.

Nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Song as well as a Grammy, Legend appeared on the cover of the December/January issue of LA Confidential and was invited by the magazine to headline the first of many parties to celebrate the award season.  However, upon learning about Bolkiah’s politics, he joined a long list of Hollywood celebrities boycotting the hotel chain.

"These policies, which, among other things, could permit women and LGBT Bruneians to be stoned to death, are heinous and certainly don't represent John's values," Legend's publicist, Amanda Silverman, said. "John does not, in any way, wish to further enrich the Sultan while he continues to enforce these brutal laws.”
Bolkiah installed the code in October of 2013, leading celebrities, including Ellen DeGeneres and Elton John, to institute a viral boycott.  In addition the City of Beverly Hills voted unanimously to pressure the government of Brunei to divest the Beverly Hills Hotel, and the Human Rights Campaign sent the hotel a letter strongly urging LA Confidential to reconsider the venue.
Event organizers at LA Confidential declared that they respect Legend’s decision, but still intended to hold the event at the hotel.

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