Kering Joins the Sultan of Brunei Boycott

Kering (formerly PPR) is the latest to join the chorus of egalitarian-minded corporations denouncing the Sultan of Brunei and the anti-women, anti-gay Sharia law he’s enacted in his Asian country. François-Henri Pinault, Kering’s CEO, joined the growing boycott of the ten luxury hotels run by Dorchester Collection, which the Sultan owns, contributing to his vast wealth estimated at $20 billion.

“As president of Kering Foundation, which combats violence against women,” he wrote on Twitter, “I firmly condemn the Sultan of Brunei’s decision and join the boycott of his hotel properties.” He speaks for the entire Kering stable, including Gucci, Balenciaga, Puma, and Alexander McQueen, as well as Saint Laurent, which, along with creative director Hedi Slimane, made its own announcement over the weekend.

Other corporations protesting the Sultan of Brunei include the Virgin Group, Creative Artists Agency, and the William Morris Endeavor, while celebrities Ellen DeGeneres and Jay Leno have also lent their support. Dorchester is already reporting 20 canceled events at its hotels with a reported loss of $2 million in revenue.

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