Ellen DeGeneres, Elton John, George Clooney And More To Boycott Brunei-Owned Hotels Over Potentential New Law That Would Punish Homosexuals By Death

Elton John, Ellen and more are calling for the boycott of luxury hotels owned by Brunei sovereign wealth fund over potential new anti-gay laws that would make homosexuality punishable by death by stoning.

This week Brunei is set to move forward with punishing people who commit adultery or act out same-sex acts through whipping or stoning. Several celebrities including #GeorgeClooney have stepped in to take action. The actor was one of the first to post the horrific news last week. In support, John responded to Clooney’s Twitter post saying, “I commend my friend, #GeorgeClooney, for taking a stand against the anti-gay discrimination and bigotry taking place in the nation of #Brunei — a place where gay people are brutalized, or worse — by boycotting the Sultan’s hotels,” John said in a tweet.

It didn’t take long before several others joined in, listing several hotels that are owned by Brunei. #EllenDeGeneres took to Twitter, naming London’s Dorchester, along with the Hotel Bel-Air and the Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles. The properties form part of the Dorchester Collection of luxury hotels, owned by the Brunei Investment Agency. Bloomberg reports a person answering the phone at the Dorchester said press officer will be answering questions on Monday.

According to Bloomberg, The Brunei Investment Agency is a government-owned wealth fund that invests on behalf of the small oil-rich sultanate located on the north coast of Borneo, in Southeast Asia. Oil and gas account for the vast majority of the country’s exports and government revenue.

In the Twitter post, DeGeneres called for the world’s help. “Tomorrow, the country of Brunei will start stoning gay people to death. We need to do something now. Please boycott these hotels owned by the Sultan of Brunei. Raise your voices now. Spread the word. Rise up,” DeGeneres said. The entire list of hotels include The Dorchester, London 45 Park Lane, London Coworth Park, UK The Beverly Hills Hotel, Beverly Hills Hotel Bel-Air, Los Angeles Le Meurice, Paris Hotel Plaza Athenee, Paris Hotel Eden, Rome Hotel Principe di Savoia, Mi.