Crowe criticises Brunei hotel boycott: ‘It only hurts the staff’
By Sam Rigby
Russell Crowe has criticised the boycott of Dorchester Collection hotels following the introduction of new anti-gay laws by their owner, the Sultan of Brunei.
The Oscar-winning actor said that the boycott – which has been supported by the likes of Sharon Osbourne, Stephen Fry and Ellen DeGeneres – will only hurt “the hard working staff”.
He tweeted on Sunday (May 18): “I don’t agree with the boycotting of Dorchester Collection hotels. It only hurts the hard working staff who I consider friends.”
Crowe received abusive messages from LGBT supporters following the post, but he responded by emphasising his own support of the gay community.
However, he added that boycotting hotels such as the Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles isn’t the way to hurt the Sultan of Brunei.
Last month, Hassanal Bolkiah – who owns the Beverley Hills Hotel – made anal sex punishable with death by stoning, alongside other offences like rape, adultery, extramarital sexual relations for Muslims.
Gay rights charity Stonewall recently criticised the ongoing celebrity boycott of Brunei-owned Dorchester hotels, saying the campaign is unlikely to effect change and risks doing “very real harm” to LGBT people in Brunei.
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