Photo: Wenn
A pre-Grammys party organised by LA Confidential magazine will have to go ahead without honorary guest (and cover star) John Legend, who has cancelled his attendance over the venue owner's anti-LGBT policies.
The R&B singer's US representative, Amanda Silverman, told The Hollywood Reporter that Legend's non-appearance is because of "the horrific anti-women and anti-LGBT policies approved by the hotel's owner, the Sultan of Brunei."
"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 hotel is one of several owned by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah as part of his Dorchester collection. This is the first major Hollywood event to have taken place at the hotel since early 2014, when a boycott against the hotel was instigated due to the Sultan's approval of Sharia law, which includes the stoning of LGBT people and adulterers. Memorably the shot of a deserted Polo Lounge, one of the most in demand restaurants in LA, was widely circulated.
Despite the fact that Legend will not attend, the party is still set to go ahead on 5 February. The magazine's editor, Alison Miller, said in a statement, "We respect Mr. Legend's decision not to attend the event, and believe that each individual, company and organization must make their own decision as to how they communicate their positions on political views, social and civil rights."
