Sacked actress drops legal action against Hippodrome
AN actress has dropped legal action against Birmingham Hippodrome after she was axed from the lead role of The Color Purple.
Christian stage star Seyi Omooba announced her intention to sue the theatre after she was removed from the prestigious production in March last year.
Seyi, aged 25, was axed because of comments she made about homosexuality. Just a day after she was cast in the production, an old Facebook post emerged in which she quoted the Bible to express her beliefs.
She had posted: “Some Christians have completely misconceived the issue of homosexuality, they have begun to twist the word of God.
“It is clearly evident in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 what the Bible says on this matter.
“I do not believe you can be born gay, and I do not believe homosexual practice is right.
“Though the law of
this land has made it legal, that doesn’t mean it is right. I do believe that everyone sins and falls into temptation but it’s by the asking of forgiveness, repentance and the grace of God that we overcome and live how God ordained us to.”
Following a backlash, co-producers Birmingham Hippodrome and Leicester Curve announced that Seyi would no longer be part of the production.
Now, a statement from Seyi’s legal representatives Christian Concern, an organisation co-founded by her father, say that the claim has been dropped. “The claim against Birmingham Hippodrome theatre was filed as a precaution because it was not entirely clear which of the two theatres involved in the production was responsible for the decision to dismiss Miss Omooba,” the statement, given to The Stage, reads.
“Since it has transpired that Birmingham Hippodrome only played a minor role in those events, we have been able to negotiate mutually satisfactory terms of settlement with that theatre.”