Bravo personality Andy Cohen has pulled out of co-hosting the Miss
Universe pageant over a recently approved Russian law that prohibits
the promotion of “gay propaganda” to minors.
The 45-year-old openly gay Cohen
reportedly told Guiliana Rancic, his Miss Universe co-host for
the last two years, that he “didn't feel fright as a gay man
stepping foot into Russia.”
The November 9 pageant will take place at Moscow's Crocus City
Hall.
Rancic said that Cohen dropped out of the event because Russia's
“discriminatory policies make it unsafe for the gays who live there
and gays coming to work or visit.” She said that Cohen
specifically mentioned the law passed in June.
Cohen hosts Bravo's late-night talk show Watch What Happens
Live.
An online
petition asking for the pageant to be moved out of Russia has
received nearly 26,000 signatures as of Friday.