Last July 2011, I got an email from Joe that the boys of Belami were kicked out off the Mediterranean cruise. It was confirmed by SC, via email, and he attached pictures of the boys on the cruise.
From Joe ” I just got back from an RSVP cruise in the Mediterranean. Everyone was really excited to see a troupe of about 10 Bel Ami boys on the ship, led by Johan Paulik. They were everywhere: goofing around at muster, out by the pool, constantly being photographed. Then . . . they were KICKED OFF the boat and abandoned in Tunisia, the very first stop.
We asked a Holland America employee. She said that SHE heard they were filming in places where they weren’t supposed to be (perhaps the hydrotherapy pool in the spa), were asked to stop, but did it again. And thus they were asked to leave.
Someone asked the head of RSVP. He said that they were NOT officially invited by RSVP, and did not make any special arrangements, and were asked to leave for unspecified reasons.”
A year later, a case was filed by Belami for breach of contract, fraud, intentional interference with contract, negligence, and intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress with RSVP [full story from Courhouse News Service].
- Eleven “attractive young men” claim in court that a cruise company hired them to “mix and mingle” with gay passengers “on a gay Mediterranean cruise,” but when the male models attracted “too much attention,” RSVP Vacations forced them off the ship and stranded them in war-torn Tunisia.
- Lead plaintiff BAOL dba Bel Ami, a Czech company specializing in gay erotic entertainment, and 11 of its employees sued RSVP Vacations and the Holland America line, in Federal Court.
- BAOL claims RSVP Vacations broke its promise of food, free cabins and safe passage for its 11 models on a 7-day Mediterranean cruise, in exchange for “interacting” with passengers.
- BAOL claims RSVP barred its crew from filming on the ship, despite the written agreement, and booted the models in Tunisia.
- The models say RSVP took their passports and threatened to confiscate their belongings and equipment if they did not leave the ship.
- “In the morning, the young men were forced off the ship, while hundreds of other passengers watched. They waited for hours, sitting on the curb next to the port while Mr. Benko attempted to obtain visas. Hungry, scared, humiliated, and despondent, they passed another sleepless night – this time in a strange country in the aftermath of a tumultuous civil uprising.
- “When they returned home, the young men suffered even more indignity as they were teased by friends about being forcibly removed from the ship. Blogs were already reporting the news, causing the young men further humiliation.”
[full story from Courhouse News Service]