Christian The Color Purple actress sacked over homophobic comment loses five-year legal battle
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Christian actress Seyi Omooba, who was fired from a production of The Color Purple for posting a homophobic comment online, has lost her long legal battle during which she claimed she had been discriminated against. She must now pay more than £300,000 in costs after the tribunal was told that she had not read the script before accepting the role.
Seyi Omooba was dropped from the lead role of Celie in a 2019 production of the musical at the Curve Theatre in Leicester after a post she wrote five years earlier resurfaced. In the post, she expressed her belief that homosexuality is not right despite being legal.
The actress sued for religious discrimination in 2019 after she was dropped from the production, which features a lesbian romance storyline. The show is based on Alice Walker’s novel and has also been adapted into a film.
Omooba originally sued the theatre for about £128,000, claiming it would cover her original salary, future losses, and reputational damage. However, in February 2021, a tribunal concluded that she was fired for her anti-LGBTQ+ views and the negative publicity generated by her Facebook post.
During the legal battle, Omooba admitted that she had not read the script before accepting the role and assumed it would be similar to the film version, which downplayed the romantic relationship between Celie and her female lover. The stage show reportedly emphasized this aspect of the story.
Omooba claimed she would not have taken the role if she had known about the character’s sexuality and appealed against the tribunal’s decision, including the ruling that she must pay over £300,000 in legal costs.
Last week, an Employment Appeal Tribunal judge upheld the original decision, stating that Omooba was not discriminated against. Justice Jennifer Eady emphasized that Celie is considered an iconic lesbian role and that Omooba’s contract was terminated due to the social media backlash caused by her Facebook post.
The judge also noted that Omooba did not raise any concerns about playing a lesbian character before accepting the role, breaching her obligations to the theatre. The Curve’s chief executive and artistic director expressed relief at the tribunal’s decision and hoped to move forward from the controversy.
Following the ruling, Omooba issued a statement through her legal representatives, the Christian Legal Centre, expressing forgiveness towards those who had affected her career. She reiterated that canceling people for their Christian beliefs is illegal and wrong.
The Christian Legal Centre announced that they would be taking the case to the Appeal Court to seek further justice for Omooba. Meanwhile, Alice Walker, the author of The Color Purple, spoke out about the case in 2019, stating that it would be a betrayal for someone with anti-LGBTQ+ beliefs to play the role of Celie.
Walker explained that Celie’s character was inspired by her grandmother, who had experienced abuse from men and ultimately found love with another woman. The author emphasized the importance of portraying Celie’s story as one of deserving love and acceptance.
In conclusion, Seyi Omooba’s legal battle over her dismissal from The Color Purple production has come to an end with a ruling against her claims of discrimination. The case highlights the complexities of balancing religious beliefs with professional responsibilities in the entertainment industry.
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