Christian actress is suing theatre and agents because she's homophobic

[Beseigedbykillersquirrels]

www-bbc-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/uk-england-leicestershire-55923843?amp_js_v=a6&amp_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQFKAGwASA%3D#aoh=16124732828219&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s

Has anyone been following this in the news? From what I can make out, this homophobic actress was dismissed from a role she would have refused to play had she read the script before accepting because the character she was signed to play was gay. She has previously shared homophobic posts on social media, didn't tell her agents she would refuse to play gay roles and she's now suing for hurt feelings and damage to reputation. AIBU to think she's damaged her own bloody reputation?!

[quote Beseigedbykillersquirrels]@Butchyrestingface but that's really not what she's doing, is it? She's not trying to reinforce the opinion that straight actors shouldn't play gay roles and graciously stepping aside to ensure a gay actor gets the opportunity to play this role. She's a bigoted homophobe who believes her disgust with homosexuality should be given a platform because it is her religious right. And that she should be not only be defended but also rewarded for having these views.[/quote]
Yes, I know. And think I have agreed that I think she is a bigot.

Nevertheless, it is a bit jarring to see views being expressed that she, as a heterosexual actor, should have played/play a gay character, when that is quite out of step with current thinking on the subject.

@Bluesername

All human beings are sinful so how would she play any character?

I was actually wondering how she would feel about playing a serial killer.

She was stupid to lose a part. All slebs are all over sm with opinions and most of their opinions are based on nonsense. Havent read the article but i think the christians should su her for making them look bad! Homophobia because of christianity.

@Butchyrestingface - is it current thinking though? Or is it just one, high-profile opinion?
Most actors would then do this out of respect rather than disgust and hatred.

Ah, she will be paid in full because they sacked HER.
Because of a 7 year old fb post.

She lost a good opportunity there. To lose that part in the color purple, big loss.

I think she might have a case. Homophobia isn’t illegal even if her religious beliefs weren’t protected. Depends on the contractual detail, I suppose.

I can’t help seeing it as a cautionary tale of what happens to children brainwashed into extremist sects when they grow up.

Most Christians would not support her stance.

A bit random maybe, but it makes me think of (the contrast to) Elizabeth Moss and how she is somehow walking the tightrope of being a compassionate human being and having a fantastic acting career while still, nominally at least (I assume there are family considerations) remaining a Scient0l0gist.

literally, all she had to do was make some weak apology and say something like, "I apologise if anyone was offended, Jesus loves everyone."

All she had to do was apologise for and then repudiate her religious beliefs.

And what she said something being legal not making it right is true for a lot of things.

Interesting case.

In what world does an actress not know that Celie is a lesbian?!?

What is current thinking on gay people playing straight roles?

Nevertheless, it is a bit jarring to see views being expressed that she, as a heterosexual actor, should have played/play a gay character, when that is quite out of step with current thinking on the subject.

I thought that was just Russell T opining? The gay actors I know would be most pissed off if they were siloed like that.

[quote Beseigedbykillersquirrels]@Butchyrestingface - is it current thinking though? Or is it just one, high-profile opinion?
Most actors would then do this out of respect rather than disgust and hatred.[/quote]
Definitely not just one high profile case, no.

I do a lot a work in the creative industries and would say this view is fairly well embedded at the moment.

[quote Beseigedbykillersquirrels]@BoomBoomsCousin - but it wasn't just a daft selfie on Facebook. She publically declared that nobody is born gay and that homophobia is a sin. She wanted the world to know that she is homophobic. She still holds those views. It wasn't a daft spat on social media when she was a teenager. She chooses to hold these views, chooses to still hold them and chooses to let them interfere with her work. She needs to face the consequences of her bigotry.
If she wasn't sacked she would have resigned as she refuses to play gay roles. She obviously thought she could try to win some money if she chose to be sacked rather than potentially owe the theatre company money for breach of contract if she resigned. She was still offered full pay but refused to engage.[/quote]
I was just going on the article you’d linked to. I don’t think people should be fired because they hold awful views, racists, sexists, homophobes need to work too. Providing they do their job respectfully, the fact someone finds out they aren’t nice isn’t really relevant, though there is an issue for media personalities of a responsibility towards the marketing of whatever they’re in.

But after I posted I read rosetylersbiggun’s post and the extra information there does make the firing seem more than reasonable.

@Arobase

What is current thinking on gay people playing straight roles?

That’s fine.

@WhatWouldZenoDo

Ah, she will be paid in full because they sacked HER. Because of a 7 year old fb post.

She lost a good opportunity there. To lose that part in the color purple, big loss.

Did she 'lose' it, through no fault of her own, or did she refuse it? Because she hates gay people. It wasn't just because of a seven year old misjudged Facebook post. She still holds these views and believes that being a Christian gives her the right to spout anti-gay nonsense on social media. Urgh.

Did she 'lose' it, through no fault of her own, or did she refuse it?

I’m not sure how we can have ‘she was fired’ and ‘she refused it’ at the same time?

@AStudyinPink - she has stated she would have refused it if she wasn't fired, despite not telling her agents that she refuses to play gay roles. Her actions made it pretty impossible to continue with her in the role. She didn't unfortunately lose anything through no fault of her own. She is not the persecuted party here. Despite what she and her father's firm would rather people believe.

she has stated she would have refused it if she wasn't fired, despite not telling her agents that she refuses to play gay roles. Her actions made it pretty impossible to continue with her in the role. She didn't unfortunately lose anything through no fault of her own. She is not the persecuted party here. Despite what she and her father's firm would rather people believe.

But they didn’t give her a chance to refuse it. They fired her for 7 year old beliefs (as far as I can work out) of a religious variety. Her beliefs aren’t my beliefs, but she is entitled to them. So we will see how this works out.

She publicy stated at the time that she did not see Celie as gay character ad did not intend to play her as such.

I agreed with you at first Studyinpink. It did at first appear that she was being fired solely for her religious views (a protected characteristic). But more information about what actually went on in the rehearsal process is now emerging.

It's interesting that she originally intended to also sue her agent who dropped her.

Comefromaway

The Devil is usually in the detail with these things. We’ll see.

I don’t think people should be fired because they hold awful views, racists, sexists, homophobes need to work too.

That's true. Do those sacking them want their taxes used for paying people they disagree with to be unemployed?

@Kendodd

Who is she sueing for damage to her reputation? Is she sueing herself?

😂

She is a hypocrite. According to the reports she also claims she told her agent she would not play gay roles or do sexually explicit scenes yet she was happy to be in a production of Spring Awakening.

Thou shalt not kill.

Would she be okay with playing a murderer, I wonder?