Patti LuPone's plans to perform on a gay cruise have hit a snag as the ship has been barred from entering Turkey, causing an uproar from the Broadway star and event organizers.
LuPone's Reaction
The Tony Award-winning actress took to Instagram to voice her disbelief. She is set to perform aboard Virgin Voyages' Scarlet Lady from July 5 to July 15. 'I am shocked. The Atlantis cruise I am performing on next week has been banned from entering Turkey,' LuPone wrote. 'A ship — a magnificent ship — full of gay men. And me. Denied entry to Turkey simply because of who is on board.'
Despite the setback, LuPone remains committed to her audience. 'I am furious, but I am sailing, as the ship will make other ports of call. I am ready to perform for all the wonderful men on this Atlantis cruise, who deserve so much better than this,' she added.
Atlantis Events' Response
Rich Campbell, president and CEO of Atlantis Events, expressed his astonishment at Turkey's decision in an interview with CNN. 'It’s pretty stunning, to be honest. I mean, and the reasoning behind it is that it’s a gay group,' Campbell said. 'It’s very concerning to me when a country decides they can pick and choose which tourists are allowed in and which are not.'
Campbell noted that this is the first time in 36 years that Atlantis has been 'actively told we may not berth here because of who we are.'
Cruise Itinerary and Description
The cruise was described as 'an epic all-gay voyage from Athens to Venice to the Mediterranean’s most iconic destinations — Mykonos, Santorini, Istanbul, Dubrovnik, and more. We’ll dazzle 2,500 guys with stellar entertainment, the world’s best parties, and awesome experiences aboard Virgin’s Scarlet Lady,' according to a May Instagram post by Atlantis.
Despite the change in plans, the cruise will continue to other destinations, ensuring that attendees still enjoy a memorable experience.
Source: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/music/music-news/patti-lupone-gay-cruise-ship-turkey-furious-but-sailing-1236637452/
