Nigella Lawson denied entry to the U.S.

LONDON – The U.S. Embassy says celebrity cook Nigella Lawson was denied permission to board a flight to the United States on the weekend.

The embassy did not disclose the reason for refusing Lawson, who admitted during a recent court case that she had occasionally used cocaine.

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Embassy spokeswoman Lynne Platt said Thursday that Lawson was stopped from traveling Sunday and had subsequently been invited to the embassy to apply for a visa.

Lawson tweeted Saturday that she was going on vacation, but she also has worked in the U.S., where she co-hosted TV cooking competition The Taste.

British citizens need visas to work in the U.S. but not for a vacation.

U.S. authorities may refuse passengers admission for various reasons, including drug use.

A spokesman for Lawson declined comment.