John Legend cancels Brunei-owned hotel show over gay rights

John Legend has cancelled a performance at a hotel owned by the Sultan of Brunei over the country’s controversial gay rights laws.

In 2014, the country made anal sex punishable with death by stoning, alongside other offences like rape, adultery and extramarital sexual relations for Muslims. The move lead to celebrities including Sharon Osbourne, Kim Kardashian, Stephen Fry and Richard Branson publicly boycotting Brunei-owned hotels around the world.

Legend, who was scheduled to appear tomorrow (February 5) at the LA Confidential party at the Beverly Hills Hotel, has now refused to perform at the event “in light of the horrific anti-LGBT policies” that the Sultan approves of.

“John Legend will not be attending the LA Confidential party at the Beverly Hills Hotel on Thursday, February 5th in light of the horrific anti-women and anti-LGBT policies approved by the hotel’s owner, the Sultan of Brunei,” a spokesperson for the singer told Hollywood Reporter.

“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 or the spirit of the event. John does not, in any way, wish to further enrich the Sultan while he continues to enforce these brutal laws,” the spokesperson added.

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