Sacked Christian actress loses claim over lesbian role
A CHRISTIAN actress sacked from her role as a lesbian character in a musical over an allegedly anti-gay Facebook post has lost her religious discrimination claim.
Seyi Omooba, 26, brought a case for around £128,000 against a theatre trust and her former agents after being dropped as the lead character in a stage production of The Colour Purple in 2019.
She was due to play the lead of Celie in the production at the Birmingham Hippodrome in 2019, but she was dropped after comments she made online in 2014 came to light.
Her claims of discrimination, harassment and breach of contract were rejected by the Central London Employment Tribunal panel.
The panel dismissed the suggestion her sacking by the Leicester Theatre Trust, which produced the show, and talent agency Global Artists was due to discrimination against her religious beliefs.
Ms Omooba was removed from her role as Celie, who is sometimes portrayed as being in a lesbian relationship, when the 2014 Facebook post emerged.
It read: “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 it
doesn’t make it right.”
The virtual hearing of the Central London Employment Tribunal heard a storm of adverse comment followed on social media and theatre bosses became concerned at the “speed and savagery” of the reaction.
The panel said the theatre’s decision was made as a result of the backlash and the effect it would have on the play’s success.
It said the dismissal was due to “the effect of the adverse publicity from (the post’s) retweet, without modification or explanation, on the cohesion of the cast, the audience’s reception, the reputation of the producers and ‘the good standing and commercial success’ of the production”.
Ms Omooba, a devoutly religious performer, had told her agents she would not play a gay role or do sexually explicit scenes, the tribunal had heard.
But the panel commented: “She had taken part in a similar production, she had the script, and knowing that a lesbian relationship was at least one interpretation, she should have considered much earlier whether a red line was to be crossed.”
It concluded the trust wanted to “save the production” and did not “have the purpose of violating the claimant’s dignity or creating an intimidating or humiliating environment for her”.
The tribunal panel also rejected her demands for compensation for loss of earnings, future losses and reputational damage.
Ms Omooba had been offered £4,309, the full pay of her contract for the production by the Curve Theatre in Leicester.
But she refused it saying she had suffered extensive career damage for espousing her religious beliefs.
Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, a group supporting Omooba’s claim said: “We’re disappointed by the judgment and Seyi is considering her options for appeal.”
AN incredible collection of antiques amassed over 70 years by a hospital worker before her death could fetch £30,000 at auction after being unearthed.
The Aladdin’s cave of treasures was discovered at the property of the late Priscilla Kidman, who died, aged 97, earlier this year.
Antiques experts were stunned by a rich array of 150 items which feature fine ceramics, silver, paintings, centuries-old letters and vintage greetings cards.
Some of antiques and ephemera include embroidery dating back to 1680 and a globe from 1810 – made only 40 years after Captain Cook discovered Australia.
Other items include a diamond crescent brooch, an Edwardian emerald, a diamond brooch a Meissen teapot from 1770.
Now the former Derbyshire Royal Infirmary almoner’s treasures, collected over her lifetime, could make tens of thousands at auction.
They are expected to fetch more than £30,000 at Hansons Auctioneers, in Etwall, Derbyshire, on February 24.
Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons, said: “The collection of the late Priscilla Kidman captures the art of collecting over 70 years. Our valuers
have been amazed by the finds during what has been a fascinating cataloguing process.
“For example, uncovered from a cupboard was a stump work embroidery dating back to circa 1680.
“Depicting a lady in a landscape with acorn leaves, it was made during the reign of Charles II.
“There were other unique historical finds, too. In one box, we came across a letter sent from Australia to Wiltshire in 1852 talking about the
Australian Gold Rush. The writer described finding ‘that trash called gold’.
“In another box we found an 1813 workhouse token from Birmingham with an oval portrait of a young gentleman with a lock of his hair.
“Other items include a beautiful diamond crescent brooch, an Edwardian emerald and diamond brooch, a Meissen teapot from 1770, an important carved Cantonese ivory glove box, which is expected to
make over £1,000, and a beautiful table globe, circa 1810. The Globe was made only 40 years after Captain Cook discovered Australia.”
Priscilla, who was born in Derby in 1923, was the daughter of Dr George Kidman, a general physician at Derby Hospital.
A keen sportsman, he played rugby for Guys Hospital in London and for the Barbarians against Wales. Meanwhile, her mother, Marjorie, was known for her many philanthropic activities in Derby and was involved in the music scene.
Priscilla was educated in Derby until the age of 13 before transferring to St Mary’s School in Calne, Wilts., a private boarding school.
In 1941 she gained a place at St Anne’s College, Oxford and in 1944, during the Second World War, she joined the Wrens and served in Portsmouth until 1946.
Afterwards, she qualified as an almoner in Winchester and returned to her home city where she worked for 30 years.
She rose to become Senior Almoner and later Social Services lead at Derby Royal Infirmary.
After retiring in 1984, Priscilla lived life to the full and pursued many hobbies and interests, travelling the world for more than 25 years visiting friends and family.
She loved Italy and took Italian and Spanish language lessons, tried her hand at painting and embroidery, supported various charities and was involved in church life.
Mr Hanson added: “Priscilla was a talented, vibrant intellectual with a tremendous eye for artistic beauty and an eclectic taste which encompassed fine antiques and items woven into world history.
“She left a lasting legacy of both beautiful and historical objects. It has been a privilege to catalogue her items.”