Prof wins wrongful sacking case after her ‘gypos’ gaffe

A LECTURER sacked after referring to violinists as “gypos” in notes sent to 800 music students was wrongfully dismissed, an employment tribunal ruled.

Professor Francesca Carpos-Young’s remarks to Royal Academy of Music students sparked a backlash after a recipient posted them online.

Of stereotypes musicians might hear when seeking jobs, her lecture notes said: “You CONTEXT Prof Carpos-Young may hear terms like: Gypos (short for gypsies) = violinists.” Prof Carpos-Young, 59, told the London hearing it referenced her PhD findings on discrimination. Chair Judge Sarah Goodman said: “At most the claimant can be accused of foolishness in failing to anticipate how a superficial readership might wrench some of the terms out of context.”

The judge and her colleagues upheld claims for wrongful dismissal and victimisation.