The United States (US) has reportedly invited British chef Nigella Lawson on April 3, 2014, to reapply for a visa after she was barred from boarding a flight to Los Angeles last weekend.
The self-appointed "Domestic Goddess", as one of her books is called, was reportedly banned from flying to the US because she confessed to being a drug-user.
While the ban came as quite a shock given Lawson's celebrity status, she is apparently not the only high-profile personality who has experienced being banned from a country. Here are other celebrities who have experienced the same fate due to drug-related cases and other offences:
1. Paris Hilton
In 2010, Hilton's plan to endorse her fashion and fragrance lines in Japan was thwarted as she was barred from entering Tokyo. The incident happened just after she pleaded guilty to charges of cocaine possession in Las Vegas.
2. Boy George
The British performer was scheduled to start his North American tour on July 10, 2008. However, he was reportedly denied a visa by immigration officials even though he completed community service in New York in 2006 after he pleaded guilty to falsely reporting burglary.
3. The Rolling Stones
Drug charges were also to blame for the reported ban of The Stones from entering Japan.
4. Chris Brown
In 2011, Brown was reportedly removed from the line-up of artists joining a Michael Jackson tribute concert in the United Kingdom (UK). He was banned from the country due to his criminal record involving the assault of his former girlfriend Rihanna.
5. Amy Winehouse
The late singer was banned from entering the US - twice. Winehouse did not get to attend the Grammys in 2008 and Coachella in 2009 due to drug- and assault-related offences, respectively.
6. Snoop Dogg
With his extensive criminal record, Snoop Dogg was reportedly banned from the UK, Australia and The Netherlands.
7. Martha Stewart
According to 2008 reports, Stewart was denied a visa to the UK due to her convictions in the US.
8. Lily Allen
Pop singer Allen's scuffle with a photographer back in March 2007 got her barred from entering the US a few months later. She was reportedly stopped at the Los Angeles airport, where she flew in from London to attend the MTV video music awards in Las Vegas.
9. Busta Rhymes
In 2010, the rapper's work visa was rejected a day before he was supposed to perform in London due to assault cases
10. Gary Glitter
The English glam-rock singer-songwriter is reportedly banned from travelling anywhere else except in his own country for three and a half years. The reason? The convicted paedophile was deemed as a "serious threat" to children.