Patti LuPone isn’t letting a canceled port stop ruin the show. The Broadway icon blasted Turkish authorities after an LGBTQ+ cruise she was set to perform on was reportedly denied entry into the country’s ports.
Instead of backing out, LuPone doubled down on her support for passengers, making it clear she’ll still take the stage when The Atlantis cruise sets sail. Her fiery response quickly became one of the biggest talking points surrounding the itinerary shake-up.
Patti LuPone criticized Turkey after the reported LGBTQ cruise ban
LuPone shared her reaction in a candid Instagram post after learning that the Atlantis “Athens to Venice” sailing would no longer stop in Turkey. The cruise, operated by Atlantis Events aboard Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady, had planned visits to Kuşadası and Istanbul before organizers were forced to reroute the trip.
“I am shocked,” LuPone wrote on Instagram. “The Atlantis cruise I am performing on next week has been banned from entering Turkey. A ship—a magnificent ship—full of gay men. And me. Denied entry to Turkey simply because of who is on board.” She continued, “I am furious, but I am sailing… I am ready to perform for the wonderful men on this Atlantis cruise, who deserve so much better than this.”
According to CNN, Turkish authorities canceled the scheduled stops after determining the chartered voyage was associated with groups “known for behaviors incompatible with the fabric of our society and our moral values.” The revised itinerary will now include stops in Cairo, Egypt, and the Greek island of Crete instead.
The decision stunned Atlantis Events, which has been hosting LGBTQ+ vacations for more than three decades. Company president and CEO Rich Campbell told CNN, “It’s pretty stunning, to be honest. I mean, and the reasoning behind it is that it’s a gay group.” He added that it marked the first time in the company’s 36-year history that it had been “actively told we may not berth here because of who we are.”
Campbell also pushed back against suggestions that the cruise had a political agenda. “This is not a political organization. We are not there for anything except to spend money, have a good time, take tours and be incredibly respectful to every culture we visit,” he said, according to CNN.
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