Broadway icon and star of Disney’s agatha forever, Patti LuPone, has expressed her outrage as both Turkey and Egypt, predominately Muslim nations, have barred entry to a cruise ship accommodating many gay men, where she is performing.
On Friday, reports confirmed that Egyptian officials did not permit the Virgin Voyages cruise ship carrying 2,000 gay passengers—dubbed scarlet lady—to dock.
“We had full approval and at the 11th hour they denied us permission,” Rich Campbell, the CEO of Atlantis Events, shared during a show.
Patti LuPone took to Instagram on July 2 to disclose that Turkey had also refused entry to the ship.
The Tony Award recipient stated, “This is shocking. The Atlantis cruise I’m part of next week has been banned from entering Turkey. The ship—a lovely vessel—is filled with gay men. And here I am, denied entry just because of who is aboard.”
The seasoned performer further voiced her frustration, saying, “I’m furious, but the ship will sail and visit other locations. I’m prepared to perform for all the wonderful men on this Atlantis cruise. They truly deserve better than this.”
The cruise’s planned stop in Egypt came about after Turkish authorities prohibited entry.
While Egyptian officials did not clarify the reasoning behind the ship’s denial, Turkish authorities did publish a statement indicating that the cruise was “chartered by an organization known for behavior inconsistent with our society’s values and moral standards… We will not tolerate this madness.”
Turkey’s announcement directly referenced the passengers’ lifestyle, asserting it clashes with the country’s “moral standards” and “family values.”
It concluded that the ship’s docking was canceled due to “serious public concerns.” They stated there was “absolutely no chance” the group would be welcomed for an event of this nature.
Passengers voiced their displeasure and hurt over the decision, rallying behind Patti LuPone’s expressions of disgust.
The scarlet lady is set to depart on July 5th and finish her journey in Italy on July 15th.
Initially promoted in May, the cruise was billed as “an epic all-gay journey from Athens to some Mediterranean highlights, including Venice, Mykonos, Santorini, Istanbul, and Dubrovnik.” It offered a chance for 2,500 men to enjoy exceptional entertainment, lively parties, and a remarkable experience aboard Virgin’s ship.
Following the changes, the vessel will also make stops in Chania, Crete, before reaching Montenegro, where passengers will transfer ashore.
