George Clooney to maintain pressure on Brunei over anti-gay law

George Clooney has welcomed news that Brunei will not stone gay people to death, however the actor said he intends to maintain pressure on the small Asian country over its laws.

Clooney made the comments after the Sultan of Brunei announced on Sunday (May 5) that the country would not subject gay people to the death penalty after global backlash to its new laws.

The laws—which came into effect in early April—meant that gay men and those accused of adultery could be stoned to death as a part of Sharia law.

Brunei faced global backlash for the laws. George Clooney led calls for a boycott of hotels owned by the Sultan of Brunei, a move which was later endorsed by high-profile figures such as Ellen DeGeneres and Elton John.

George Clooney said this might not be the end of Brunei’s anti-gay laws

In a statement released today (May 7), Clooney said the decision was a “huge step forward after a giant leap backwards” and pointed out that—despite assurances from the Sultan of Brunei—the law is still in place.

He also said the backlash to the laws sends “a very crucial message to countries like Indonesia and Malaysia that there is a cost for enacting these laws.”

He said the cost isn’t in people boycotting hotels, but is more to do with corporations and “big banks” who will no longer do business with them.

“The financial institutions stepping up had a huge impact,” Clooney said.

“Having said that, the law to stone their citizens is still in place, meaning that as soon as the pressure dies down they could simply start the process of carrying out executions.”

– George Clooney

“Having said that, the law to stone their citizens is still in place,” Clooney continued, “meaning that as soon as the pressure dies down they could simply start the process of carrying out executions. So in reference to the boycott everyone should do what they feel is correct.

“For my family and me we simply can’t walk away until this draconian law is no longer on the books.”