Nigella Lawson banned from the US for taking cocaine

Dravokivich · 03-04-2014 10:00AM

rubadub wrote: »

Yep, its the number 1 reason I hear when people refuse a drag on a joint, "no thanks, I might want to go to the states some day".

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/10740907/Nigella-Lawson-barred-from-boarding-US-bound-flight.html

You would think they could just add it to the form, "have you ever used any illegal drugs in the past". Turning people away last minute has got to be bad news for everybody, the airlines, travel agency, the US themselves -i.e. putting off future holidaymakers. I imagine lots would admit it on principle.

Don't think it'll work out too well. A lot of people tend to act with ignorance on that Australian border control show, even with stuff clearly outlined and translated on their forms.

conorhal · 03-04-2014 10:04AM

The Backwards Man wrote: »

She'll still get in, they'll just make her go through hoops for a visa. Fighting the war on drugs one C-list celebrity at a time.

It's probably the most effective way to do it as it might make people consider the consequences, I'd imagine half of Dublin 4 shivered this morning as they imagined their annual shopping trip to NY going up in smoke....

rubadub · 03-04-2014 10:06AM

Dravokivich wrote: »

A lot of people tend to act with ignorance on that Australian border control show, even with stuff clearly outlined and translated on their forms.

Those people have made it through and are trying to smuggle stuff, its a bit different. Or else its lads with convictions who do not declare them on purpose and know it can easily be proved with official documentation. If they are caught smuggling stuff and are truly ignorant they still deserve to be caught, you would have to prove you smoked a joint once which is a lot harder.

I am saying lots would do it on principle, at the visa application stage, no loss of air tickets or being refused at the airport or put on a plane home. If it did happen I could imagine loads of famous people doing it on principle to expose and embarrass the US and their (alleged) policies. So you would have US citizens themselves bemoaning the fact that their favourite band never plays there since the drummer took a drag of a joint once.

Perhaps we should have refused Obama entry here, he admitted taking illegal drugs in the past.

sadie06 · 03-04-2014 10:40AM

I'm thinking there is a difference between recounting your tales of drug taking in print media for entertainment or educational purposes, and having an admission forced out if you in a court of law.

The issue is more than likely related to the fact that omissions on her visa application were swiftly followed by admissions in court. Not good!

Yer man is a total a55hole for putting her in this position!

RasTa · 03-04-2014 11:32AM

How the hell does Keith Richards and Iggy get in all the time

Wibbs · 03-04-2014 12:15PM

Good point RasTa. Goes for a helluva lot of the old timers. Paul McCartney has admitted his regular pot use up until relatively recently, he openly admitted taking LSD and all sorts of other stuff and even ended up in a Japanese Gaol for possession back in the 70's, yet he played the Superbowl a few years ago. How does he get in?

Harold Weiss · 03-04-2014 12:16PM

Probably more to do with her husbands highbrow connections in US.

Ash.J.Williams · 03-04-2014 12:18PM

what does it say on the temp visa form? Is it to declare drugs convictions or is there something about drug use? I know we would all say NO to use, but if you say NO and are in the media saying YES then that would be grounds to deny entry.

folbotcar · 03-04-2014 12:25PM

There's a lot of assumptions being made by the journalists here. For one thing the airline would not have been informed as to the reason why she would not be admitted to the US. Unless they have hard information as to the reason then it's speculation.

It could be any one of a number of issues. An incorrect visa for one thing or an issue with the passport. In order to have worked on that TV programme in the US. She would have required a visa that allows her to work there even temporarily. If that was withdrawn. I seriously doubt she would only have found out at the airport.

If that is the reason then I would suspect Saatchi had a hand in it. That would be no surprise. He's a bitter man.

If she's banned then as others said a lot of British celebs would be banned. Including Mick Jagger for example.

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo · 03-04-2014 12:32PM

Russell facking Brand is extremely open about his heroin and other drug abuse and his countless arrests and convictions yet manages to have some sort of a career going for himself over there.

Still though...

#PrayforNidge

Scarinae · 03-04-2014 12:41PM

NiallSparky wrote: »

What I'm wondering is who would have been able to stop her? There's no US border at Heathrow (unlike Dublin & Shannon), surely it should have been LAX she was denied entry at?

There isn't a formal border, but before you can check in for a US-bound flight at Heathrow you get quizzed by a security person.

Paddy Cow · 03-04-2014 02:34PM

Fred Swanson wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Actually

The specific grounds on which she was barred entry to the US have not been confirmed. And it is not known if she was stopped at passport control or at the departure gate where passports are often scanned.

She is thought to have checked in and passed security before being told she could not board her plane.

Miss Lawson is thought to have tried to enter the U.S. by registering online for permission to travel and confirming she had not been arrested or convicted of offences including taking illegal drugs.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s customs and border protection department said it could not comment on individual cases.

A BA spokesman said: ‘Due to data protection laws, we cannot comment on individual customers.’

A spokesman for Miss Lawson said: ‘We would never comment on Nigella’s travel plans.’

The Daily Mail have no idea why Nigella wasn't allowed on the plane. It's a load of speculative BS by some "journalist". She is "thought" to have done this and that but really they haven't a clue.

She has been to America since her court appearance so why would her admission of using drugs be an issue now?

Nodin · 03-04-2014 02:43PM

ceadaoin. wrote: »

This is a bit weird. Surely they can't deny entry for past illegal drug use? If they did then hardly any entertainers would get in. I don't think Keith Richards has had any problems! It's not like she was charged with anything. Maybe her visa wasn't in order or something like that.

....because Keith Richards is cool, she isn't.

rubadub · 03-04-2014 02:58PM

Wibbs wrote: »

Goes for a helluva lot of the old timers. Paul McCartney has admitted his regular pot use up until relatively recently,

Not sure if he officially admitted it in court or anything. This point was made. I think McCartney was in court for growing weed. They might ignore that though, as I said Obama smoked, why do they let that junkie degenerate lazy waster back in.

sadie06 wrote: »

I'm thinking there is a difference between recounting your tales of drug taking in print media for entertainment or educational purposes, and having an admission forced out if you in a court of law.

But as I said before it if was such an important factor you would expect at least a check box on the visa forum. Or expect ticket agents to ask people extra questions if it was known to be an issue, especially as it was commonly known that she took it, so not even a question but more like warning her.

Spunge · 03-04-2014 03:01PM

rubadub wrote: »

They might ignore that though, as I said Obama smoked, why do they let that junkie degenerate lazy waster back in.

Affirmative action

sopretty · 03-04-2014 03:03PM

I'd say the auld ex hubby had a finger in this pie.....

Fred Swanson · 03-04-2014 03:08PM

This post has been deleted.

padd b1975 · 03-04-2014 03:18PM

rubadub wrote: »

Yep, its the number 1 reason I hear when people refuse a drag on a joint, "no thanks, I might want to go to the states some day".

Number 1 reason used when trying to weasel their way out of a conviction.:cool:

Fred Swanson · 03-04-2014 03:30PM

This post has been deleted.

Tony EH · 03-04-2014 04:50PM

Am I the only one who's sick of hearing about this cow?

Ash.J.Williams · 03-04-2014 04:53PM

Tony EH wrote: »

Am I the only one who's sick of hearing about this cow?

that's harsh

Fred Swanson · 03-04-2014 05:05PM

This post has been deleted.

rubadub · 03-04-2014 05:22PM

Fred Swanson wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Yeah, if I was a 54 year old woman looking like that I'd be disgusted with myself, vile.

Donkey Oaty · 03-04-2014 05:40PM

There are a few things about the press account of this incident that don't ring true at all, unless it is a major change in US government policy.

Firstly, the mainstream news account is giving the "cocaine admission" reason as an absolute fact in this case, without any official confirmation from anyone.

Secondly, if Nigella was on the no-fly list, why wasn't she stopped at check-in? Surely they would have been alerted?

Thirdly, an A-list celeb flying first-class under her own name would be high on the radar for this kind of event, and either the US authorities wanted it to happen this way, knowing the publicity it would get, or didn't, in which case they are extremely incompetent. A simple phone call could have avoided the incident, either from the airline or the US authorities.

Fourthly, team Nigella is legally and PR-savvy enough to have spinned this one way or another by now, which has not happened.

To me, there's more to this than meets the news reports.

Fred Swanson · 03-04-2014 05:43PM

This post has been deleted.

Donkey Oaty · 03-04-2014 05:46PM

Fred Swanson wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

That's a fair point, especially considering it was a first-class ticket which I understand are transferrable amongst different airlines. So maybe it was only when she checked in that she made it to the manifest.

ceadaoin. · 03-04-2014 06:02PM

Donkey Oaty wrote: »

There are a few things about the press account of this incident that don't ring true at all, unless it is a major change in US government policy.

Firstly, the mainstream news account is giving the "cocaine admission" reason as an absolute fact in this case, without any official confirmation from anyone.

Secondly, if Nigella was on the no-fly list, why wasn't she stopped at check-in? Surely they would have been alerted?

Thirdly, an A-list celeb flying first-class under her own name would be high on the radar for this kind of event, and either the US authorities wanted it to happen this way, knowing the publicity it would get, or didn't, in which case they are extremely incompetent. A simple phone call could have avoided the incident, either from the airline or the US authorities.

Fourthly, team Nigella is legally and PR-savvy enough to have spinned this one way or another by now, which has not happened.

To me, there's more to this than meets the news reports.

Another article states

The US department of homeland security told the Mail that foreigners who had admitted drug taking were deemed "inadmissible".

It does seem that there is more to this. The guardian article also says:

A spokeswoman for the US embassy said: "There are several ways of legally travelling into the United States and Ms Lawson has been invited to come to the embassy and apply for a visa for travel to the US. We understand she has professional requirements for US travel and these matters are generally handled routinely and expeditiously, so stand by."

She has travelled there since her trial to film a show so would she not already have a visa?

Donkey Oaty · 03-04-2014 06:06PM

ceadaoin. wrote: »

She has travelled there since her trial to film a show so would she not already have a visa?

Well now, she was travelling on holiday, possibly on a business/work visa, so maybe the change of purpose meant different conditions for refusal set in?

Strange situation.

Putin · 03-04-2014 06:10PM

Tony EH wrote: »

Am I the only one who's sick of hearing about this cow?

I'm guessing you're a virgin.

Paddy Cow · 03-04-2014 06:56PM

Tony EH wrote: »

Am I the only one who's sick of hearing about this cow?

Cow is a pretty strong word but the Daily Mail are really scrapping the bottom of the barrel with this story. They know news about Nigella still sells so they ran with a non story. They have no real idea about why she didn't get on that plane but they still ran with a story based on nothing more than speculation.

Nigella Lawson banned from the US for taking cocaine

Comments