Celebrities Boycott Beverly Hills Hotel Owned By Sharia-Imposing Sultan

As the sultan of Brunei begins imposing death by stoning for homosexuality and adultery, celebrities push back against the swanky Beverly Hills Hotel and other properties in the sultan's chain.

Updated — May 6, 8:45 p.m. ET

Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah began rolling out Sharia law last week, which could result in death sentences for homosexuality and adultery.

The sultan owns Dorchester Hotels, a chain that includes the popular Beverly Hills Hotel and Hotel Bel-Air.

Various Hollywood figures responded to the imposition of Sharia law with a boycott of the hotel.

No @Virgin employee, nor our family, will stay at Dorchester Hotels until the Sultan abides by basic human rights http://t.co/k1hMHAS5ft

Jay Leno was on scene to participate in a demonstration Monday against the sultan.

Jay Leno in his usual denim for the protest against the Beverly Hills Hotel owner the Sultan of Brunei

The celebrities joining the boycott add to a list that has been growing since earlier this year.

Protestors across from The Beverly Hills Hotel voicing their opposition to the Sultan of Brunei.

I won't be visiting the Hotel Bel-Air or the Beverly Hills Hotel until this is resolved. http://t.co/RqQrLBK4EJ

Not that you were necessarily going to stay there, but time to boycott the Dorchester Group http://t.co/r0wq1iVxUZ - Send them a message

Please join me in BOYCOTTING @BevHillsHotel, @HotelBelAir and all @DC_LuxuryHotels. http://t.co/Vr53tTuCld

Last month, The Motion Picture & Television Fund decided to move its annual fundraiser from the Beverly Hills Hotel the night before the Oscars.

The fundraiser has been held at the Beverly Hills Hotel since 2003 and typically is one of Hollywood's toniest nights, drawing A-listers and raising millions of dollars. The boycott also cost the hotel a couple of other big events; the Hollywood Reporter pulled a Women in Entertainment breakfast from the hotel, and LGBT advocacy group Gill Action moved a conference that was scheduled for this week.

LGBT donors cancel conference at Brunei-owned Beverly Hills Hotel over death by stoning law - http://t.co/wJKznBb3b7

Event cancelations continued Tuesday. Aviva Family and Children's Services had planned a gala for May 31 at the hotel, but announced it would be moved Tuesday. Event planner Hila David — who is part of the team working on the gala — told BuzzFeed the decision to move the gathering was prompted by the boycott.

Aviva President and CEO Regina Bette said Tuesday the sultan's "decision to adopt Sharia law" conflicted with her non-profit's goals of serving at-risk and abused youth.

David said the boycott also prompted both Cedars-Sinai and The Independent School Alliance for Minority Affairs to move events that had been planned for the Beverly Hills Hotel.

Late Tuesday, the International Women's Media Foundation joined the boycott as well, saying it would move the 2014 Courage Awards to another location. The event was scheduled for Oct. 29 at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

Dorchester Collection CEO Christopher Cowdray issued a statement Monday calling for a broader perspective and saying the boycott shouldn't be directed at the hotels.

Cowdray also wrote in his statement that the hotels have seen "tremendous support" from "our loyal guests and long standing business partners who recognise that Dorchester Collection hotels are part of the fabric of their local communities. We will continue to honour their iconic heritage and remain committed to our core values of integrity, equality and diversity."

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