Hollywood Shuns Posh Hotels ... Over Harsh Islamic Law

Hollywood has turned its back on two of its favorite hotels over harsh Islamic laws introduced in the tiny sultanate of Brunei. The Beverly Hills Hotel and the Hotel Bel-Air are owned by Brunei's sultan and at least nine major entertainment industry events have been pulled from the hotels, reports the Los Angeles Times. The country's new laws—hailed as a "great achievement" by the sultan—make adultery, abortions, and same-sex relationships crimes punishable by stoning, reports the AP.

Jay Leno joined a demonstration across Sunset Boulevard from the Beverly Hills Hotel yesterday and said the Brunei laws are a more serious issue than LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling's racist remarks. "I mean, we get so upset when a team owner says something inappropriate," he said. "Here are people being killed, stoned to death ... It's just a matter of priorities, that's what it is." The Beverly Hills City Council plans to consider a resolution today to call on Brunei to sell its interest in the hotel. (More Brunei stories.)