Stephen Fry boycotts Coworth Park hotel owned by Sultan of Brunei over anti-gay law


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Stephen Fry is boycotting The Dorchester Collection of hotels, owned by the Sultan of Brunei, after the country introduced a law to punish gays with death by stoning.

The journalist and presenter cancelled his stay at luxury hotel Coworth Park, in Berkshire, as it is part of the hotel group owned by the Sultan, Hassanal Bolkiah.

The star tweeted his decision, making him the latest in a line of celebrities to boycott hotels within the group, which includes two London hotels - The Dorchester and 45 Park Lane - as well as hotels in Paris, Geneva, Milan, Rome and the US.

Luxury retreat: Coworth Park is owned by The Dorchester Collection, along with two London hotels

Luxury retreat: Coworth Park is owned by The Dorchester Collection, along with two London hotels

He wrote: 'Cancelled in nick of time: discovered @CoworthParkUK that I was booked into is part of the "Dorchester Collection"'

 

Fry's cancellation comes after the fashion industry also declared its intention to avoid the hotels over their association with Brunei's tough new laws, which have been condemned around the world.

Tweeting his opinion: Stephen Fry told his followers he had cancelled his trip

Tweeting his opinion: Stephen Fry told his followers he had cancelled his trip

Boycott: Stephen Fry cancelled his stay at Coworth Park in response to the Brunei law change

Boycott: Stephen Fry cancelled his stay at Coworth Park in response to the Brunei law change

American shoe designer Brian Atwood and fashion designer Peter Som are mobilising the fashion industry to boycott The Beverly Hills Hotel and Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles which are the only US hotels that are part of The Dorchester Collection.

Brian Atwood took to Instagram to post a message to his 187,000 followers, writing: 'Don't stay at the Principe di Savoia, Le Meurice, or the Dorchester during Milan, Paris or London Fashion Weeks this June to October.

'Send a clear signal to their owner, the Sultan of Brunei, that stoning people to death for being gay in Brunei is not acceptable.'

Days later, following an article in the LA Times about the boycott, he tweeted: 'Awareness is a start #takeastand'.

Committing a homosexual act in Brunei was punishable by a 10-year prison sentence, but that has just been increased to death by stoning in a law that was introduced on April 22.

Missing out: Stephen Fry was supposed to be staying at Coworth Park
Missing out: Stephen Fry was supposed to be staying at Coworth Park

Missing out: Stephen Fry was supposed to be staying at Coworth Park

Fashion favourite: Designers are boycotting the LA hotel that is also owned by The Dorchester Collection

Fashion favourite: Designers are boycotting the LA hotel that is also owned by The Dorchester Collection

An LGBT group kick-started a round of protests outside The Beverly Hills Hotel, holding signs and explaining to guests about the 'homophobic' law.

In response to the fashion industry boycott, a spokesperson for The Dorchester Collection told Women's Wear Daily: 'We are aware that many variations of Sharia law are practiced in many countries throughout the world and these countries have diverse business interests including fashion, hospitality and travel groups, media, entertainment, banking and many other sectors.

'We are sensitive to the fact that any such potential withdrawal of business directly impacts our employees, who represent the full diversity of society. We continue to abide by the laws of the countries we operate in and do not tolerate any form of discrimination of any kind.'






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