The LGBTQ+ cruise ship on which Patti LuPone performs has been banned from entering Egypt after being banned from entering Türkiye.
CNN confirmed on Friday that the Egyptian authorities did not allow the Scarlet Lady, affiliated with Virgin Voyages, to enter its waters. “We had full approval and they denied us the permit at the eleventh hour,” Rich Campbell, president and CEO of Atlantis Events, told the outlet.
This news comes after LuPone took to Instagram on July 2 to reveal that the ship had been turned away from Türkiye. “I am shocked. The Atlantis cruise I am taking next week has been denied entry to Turkey. A ship – a wonderful ship – full of gay men. And I have been denied entry to Turkey simply because of who was on board,” the Tony Award winner wrote.
She continued: “I’m angry, but I’m sailing, as the ship will stop at other ports. I’m ready to perform for all the wonderful men on this Atlantis voyage, who deserve so much better than this.”
Per Atlantis website, the Egypt leg of the cruise was added to the itinerary after the ship was not allowed to dock in Türkiye.
Egyptian officials did not explain why the cruise ship was banned, though the Aydın government published a post on The organization referred to is Atlantis, an LGBTQ+ cruise line.
Regarding the ship that was rejected by Türkiye and Egypt, passenger Greg Morley told CNN: “My mind went to the LGBTQ communities in Egypt and Turkey where LGBTQ individuals do not have opportunities to sail away.” “The discrimination and lack of opportunity that come with the short-sighted marginalization of LGBT people and other minorities hurts far beyond rescheduling a cruise ship,” Morley added.
the Agatha along The actress shared a photo on Instagram on Friday of herself and the cruise ship passengers, though she did not mention which ship was being turned away from Egypt in the caption.
“A ship — a wonderful ship — full of gay men,” she wrote. “And I.”
Hollywood Reporter I have reached out to a LuPone representative for comment.
Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady sailed on July 5 and will end its voyage in Italy on July 15. The cruise is described as “an epic gay voyage from Athens to Venice to the most popular destinations in the Mediterranean – Mykonos, Santorini, Istanbul, Dubrovnik, and more. We will wow 2,500 men with premium entertainment, the best parties in the world, and amazing experiences on board Virgin’s Scarlet Lady,” a May Instagram post shared by Atlantis.
