Homophobic Bigot Loses Case.......

[ToraToraTora]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-56089759
...bet she wished she'd kept her trap shut.

[Khandro]

//The entry, written when the Christian actress was 20, said: "I do not believe you can be born gay, and I do not believe homosexuality is right, though the law of this land has made it legal doesn't mean its right."//

I've heard a lot worse than that, & her issue isn't defending what she once said, (though it's a view she's entitled to) but losing an acting part because of it.

[jim360]

That would be fine, jno, but having already accepted the job, refusing then to play it as requested is refusing to do the job properly. If a homophobe refuses to play any gay characters before accepting the role, then that's their free choice; although, given the publicity surrounding this case, I doubt she'll find employment in acting any time soon.

It isn't a "script change" either -- part of the theatre's case is that (a) this was already a clear elment of the story, as affirmed by its author,(b) she hadn't read the script they'd sent properly, (c) other productions have made the same interpretation, including one Omooba was previously involved in.

Moreover, if you stick by homophobic comments then you are essentially making them afresh. That's toxic both for the working environment and, in this day and age, for the company itself to be seen to tolerate such bigotry.

[Sqad]

Khandro....I picked up that very sentence that you highlighted to which, I agree.
To be sacked in my opinion was a bit harsh.

[pixie374]

While I don't like "bigotry", everyone is entitled to their views. If the problem is that she refused to do "this job" properly, she deserves to lose it. But not employing her again, because of her personal beliefs, is just a different kind of bigotry.

[andy-hughes]

Khandro - // I've heard a lot worse than that, & her issue isn't defending what she once said, (though it's a view she's entitled to) but losing an acting part because of it. //

Firstly, because one situation is 'worse' does not make another situation 'better' - that is no defence whatsoever.

She did not 'lose an acting part because of it' - she chose not to play the part, having initially agreed so to do, and then refused full payment from the company.

Her view is abhorrent, regardless of whether or not you have heard 'worse' Khandro, and she has rightly been laughed out of court for her arrogance, and pillioried for her appalling 'Christian' bigotry.

[Jackdaw33]

I think the word 'abhorrent' to describe her comments is OTT. Misguided, yes, and certainly non-PC in this day and age.

[naomi24]

//having already accepted the job, refusing then to play it as requested is refusing to do the job properly.//

I agree - but then I’ve seen others of a religious persuasion accept jobs that they subsequently refuse to properly fulfil - and they are not fired but are afforded special concessions.

[TrevorThePug]

"but losing an acting part because of it."

No, she refused to do it, so they offered her the full salary to leave the cast so as to salvage the production but she wanted MORE money. As a result of the tribunal - and her hateful vendetta against the Curve - she will have no doubt lost many future opportunities in this field.

[jim360]

//[N]ot employing her again, because of her personal beliefs, is just a different kind of bigotry. //

How does that figure? Every employer is within their rights to refuse to work with somebody who's openly homophobic or bigoted in some other way. She's welcome to apologise for and disavow her homophobia, and find employment having seen sense that her religious views are, at the very least, her private business and nobody else's.

The idea that refusing to tolerate bigotry is itself bigoted is nonsensical.

[Jackdaw33]

Precisely, Naomi. What about Muslim checkout staff who refuse to handle pork or alcohol? Try sacking someone for that.

[pixie374]

I disagree, Andy. "Bigotry" is very subjective. I think Jim would confirm that sometimes, his and my views of it, can be polar opposites.
Having an unpopular view, or even what you see as "abhorrent" is one thing, whether you like someone or not. Being paid to do a professional job, just depends on whether you are willing and able to do it properly.
Not every employed person is likeable by everyone, it's to do the job.

[pixie374]

No, it isn't, Jim. Bigotry is just as bad either way. You can't say it's fair when you agree with someone, but not if you don't.

[Mozz71]

//Not every employed person is likeable by everyone, it's to do the job.//

A job she refused to do as instructed. She was lucky to have been offered the full wage by the theatre, and if she had any semblance on intelligence, she would've accepted that and moved on with her life. Now she's going to have a hard time getting any work.

[jno]

jim, part of her case is that it wasn't clear in the script at all. As I mentioned above, it's almost non-existent in the film.

There are echoes of Hollywood #MeToo in this: actresses being told halfway through a production to remove their clothes even though the script didn't mention it.

I haven't seen the script she saw (has anyone?) so I can't say who's right on this; but without doing so I wouldn't accuse her of being unprofessional.

[jim360]

// I’ve seen others of a religious persuasion accept jobs that they subsequently refuse to properly fulfil - and they are not fired but are afforded special concessions.//

Depends on the example, I suppose, but in general I'm against making exemptions except in the limited case that the exemptions are easy to find workarounds for. For example, if a Jewish person would refuse to work on Saturdays (or a Christian on Sundays), it's presumably not unreasonable to give them shifts on other days instead. On the other hand, if a shop assistant refused to handle (and therefore to sell) alcohol, then it would be wrong to place them at a till because inevitably that would directly impact the customer at some point; they should either be reassigned to a role that doesn't "force" them to make a decision against their religious beliefs, or find a different job.

[naomi24]

Accusations of bigotry/racism etc serves to attempt to silence contrary opinions.

[jim360]

I'm basing some of my comments on this separate report, jno:

https://www.whatsonstage.com/leicester-theatre/news/curve-leicester-seyi-omooba-rejected_53388.html

// [Omooba] went on to admit that she didn't read the script before auditioning for the show and still hadn't read it even when offered (and accepted) the part. //

[naomi24]

You shouldn't be working around a principle, Jim. If it's wrong for one it's wrong for all.

[pixie374]

Mozz, as I said, if she refuses to do the job she is being paid for, she deserves to lose it. For other employers to judge her on (what they believe, at least) to be personal views, is just as bad.

[TrevorThePug]

I'm sure she can still take her goodly book and work the Christian show circuit ad infinitum.