Rebel Wilson doubles down on promoting Dubai after LGBT backlash
Rebel Wilson doubles down on promoting Dubai: Gay actress brushes off criticism after attending a ritzy hotel opening despite UAE’s notorious anti-LGBT laws
Rebel Wilson sparked controversy this week when she went on a promotional trip to Dubai despite the anti-LGBT laws of the United Arab Emirates.
Now the Pitch Perfect star, who is in a lesbian relationship with fashion designer Ramona Agruma, has doubled down on her Dubai promo blitz by posting more photos of the couple attending the lavish opening of the Atlantis The Royal hotel.
Wilson, 42, uploaded a gallery of snaps to Instagram on Tuesday showing her and Agruma posing side-by-side in matching attire on a balcony next to a luxurious pool.
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Rebel Wilson has doubled down on her Dubai promo blitz by posting more photos of herself attending the lavish opening of the Atlantis The Royal hotel
She captioned the images with two love hearts before emphasising her support for the Dubai hotel by tagging it.
Wilson and Agruma joined a slew of A-list guests at the extravagant opening of the Atlantis The Royal hotel over the weekend.
And while the same-sex couple appeared to have the time of their life at the lavish ribbon-cutting event, the comedic actor faced criticism from fans pointing out the United Arab Emirates is well-known for its anti-LGBT laws.
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Wilson, 42, uploaded a gallery of snaps to Instagram on Tuesday showing her and Agruma posing side-by-side in matching attire on a balcony next to a luxurious pool
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Wilson (right) and her fiancée Agruma (left) were among the A-list guests at the extravagant opening of Atlantis The Royal hotel in Dubai over the weekend
After Wilson first posted about the ritzy trip on Instagram, many of her followers questioned why she was promoting tourism in a country where same-sex acts are a criminal offence – although these laws are not always enforced.
Wilson, who is a member of the LGBT community since coming out in June last year, posted a video of herself and Agruma having a blast in Dubai.
The opening of the luxury resort hotel featured an exclusive concert by Beyoncé, who was allegedly paid $34million for her appearance.
‘Atlantis The Royal is BEYond! What a weekend with BEY!’ the Bridesmaids star gushed in a caption alongside photos from the event.
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While the same-sex couple appeared to have the time of their life at the lavish ribbon-cutting event, the comedic actor faced criticism from fans pointing out the United Arab Emirates is well-known for its anti-LGBT laws
Followers were quick to slam Wilson for promoting the UAE and one of its most luxurious cities, citing its notorious anti-gay laws.
‘So… any update on the situation of LGBTQ there?’ one asked.
‘Aren’t you a member of LGBTQ+ community?’ another commented.
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After Wilson first posted about the ritzy trip on Instagram, many followers questioned why she was promoting tourism in a country where same-sex acts are a criminal offence – although these laws are not always enforced
‘Human rights? LGBTQ? Unfollowing now,’ a third wrote, while a fourth added: ‘Oh, the privilege. What about other LGBT people?’
Another took a swipe at Wilson for turning a blind eye to the country’s reputation so she could enjoy ‘a nice free trip’.
‘I had friends who were homosexual in Dubai. They had to get a two-bedroom apartment just in case the authorities knocked on their door,’ they added.
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Wilson was joined by some of the world’s biggest stars, including Kendall Jenner, Liam Payne and Ellen Pompeo, for the publicity extravaganza for Atlantis The Royal
Wilson was joined by some of the world’s biggest stars, including Kendall Jenner, Liam Payne and Ellen Pompeo, for the publicity extravaganza for Atlantis The Royal.
Channel Seven presenter Sonia Kruger, who inexplicably got on the guest list, thought her invite to the ‘next-level crazy’ opening was a ‘joke’ at first because it came through her Instagram DMs.
She told Fifi, Fev and Nick on Monday morning: ‘You walk through the hotel foyer and walk past Kendall Jenner, there’s Jay-Z over at the beach bar.’
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Channel Seven’s Sonia Kruger, who inexplicably got on the guest list, thought her invite to the ‘next-level crazy’ opening was a ‘joke’ at first because it came through her Instagram DMs
According to AMERA International, a website for refugee legal aid resources, the UAE Penal Code says any sexual acts outside of heterosexual marriage carry a penalty of a minimum one-year ‘confinement’.
However, it goes on to say: ‘The Arabic of article 354 is written in such a way that it could be taken as condemning all male homosexual intercourse to the death penalty or only forced male homosexual intercourse.
‘Amnesty International interprets the article as condemning perpetrators of rape of both men and women to death, but it can also be translated: “Whoever commits rape on a female or sodomy with a male.”‘
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Sonia (pictured in Sydney in December) told Fifi, Fev and Nick on Monday morning: ‘You walk through the hotel foyer and walk past Kendall Jenner, there’s Jay-Z over at the beach bar’