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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

140 replies

Beseigedbykillersquirrels · 04/02/2021 21:34

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?!

OP posts:
Original poster
Beseigedbykillersquirrels · 05/02/2021 13:02

She holds strong beliefs that certain members of society are wrong, wicked, sinners, whatever. As is her right, she is allowed to believe these things, however distasteful to many people. What she appears to not get is that her behaviour following on from this is very unattractive. She's outed herself as a homophobe and an extremely difficult person to work with. She has done this herself. Blaming this on or excusing it with her Christian beliefs, a protected characteristic of course, is not taking any personal responsibility for this huge shitshow. As though she's just been a passive bystander, just trying to do her job in line with her beliefs and all these other people are trying to persecute her for that, like she has no choice

OP posts:
Butchyrestingface · 05/02/2021 13:04

No one else can get you to Heaven. You have to do it for yourself. You can definitely be helped, but you cant rely on other people to get you there.

What church are you in? Grin I was always taught it was God's divine grace and the sacrifice of His son that I might get to heaven. Not by merit of my own deeds.

Butchyrestingface · 05/02/2021 13:05

She holds strong beliefs that certain members of society are wrong, wicked, sinners, whatever.

Has she actually said any of the above, OP?

Afromeg · 05/02/2021 13:14

What I learnt was the sacrifice of his son has given you salvation, that you are no longer called a sinner (based on 'all being sinners'). Then, your faith in Christ and your deeds (or lack of) will get you to heaven (or hell) if you stop/keep sinning. Christ took away the automatic hell key when he died but you can still get there if you don't follow Christ.

Not a Christian by the way but was raised as one and practically lived in church ( was part of different active ministries) up until my mid to late twenties. Been a long while so don't really know the gist these days. I heard, some years ago, that some churches believe you will never get to hell once you're saved, regardless of your behaviour/lifestyle. Probably why I've seen many living a 'secular lifestyle' while calling themselves Christian just because they go to church.

Original poster
Beseigedbykillersquirrels · 05/02/2021 13:24

@Butchyrestingface - yes, she stated that homosexuality is not right. Just because it is legal it doesn't make it right. That everyone falls into sin and temptation but they need to ask God's forgiveness and live how God wants them to. That she's fed up of lukewarm Christianity and they should rise up.
So it's not a case of her having a set of beliefs that she chooses to live by and harmoniously accept that others have different beliefs. She thinks everybody should live by her beliefs and if they don't, they should be held to account by non-lukewarm (fire and brimstone?) Christians and apologise to her god. If that doesn't suggest that she thinks gays are wicked sinners I've obviously misjudged her kind, love thy neighbour, Christian outlook.

OP posts:
Afromeg · 05/02/2021 13:25

That was supposed to say: Probably why I've seen many living a 'secular lifestyle' while calling themselves Christian and judging others who also live a 'secular lifestyle' (but the sort they disagree with) just because they go to church.

Butchyrestingface · 05/02/2021 13:30

Butchyrestingface - yes, she stated that homosexuality is not right Just because it is legal it doesn't make it right. That everyone falls into sin and temptation but they need to ask God's forgiveness and live how God wants them to. That she's fed up of lukewarm Christianity and they should rise up.

But that isn't what you've characterised her as saying/thinking. Has she said that she thinks gay people are "wicked sinners", etc, etc?

And no, as very lapsed Catholic who was raised in quite a religious home/community, someone saying that they believe homosexuality is a sin (much as I disagree with that view) does NOT suggest to me that that person thinks gay people are "wicked sinners", etc, etc, etc.

lightand · 05/02/2021 13:43

@Butchyrestingface
No one else can get you to Heaven. You have to do it for yourself. You can definitely be helped, but you cant rely on other people to get you there. What church are you in? grin I was always taught it was God's divine grace and the sacrifice of His son that I might get to heaven. Not by merit of my own deeds

God does His part, but you have to do things too.
You have to seek God, and find Him.
No one who is able to, can just sit, and hey presto, they get into Heaven.

Sphagnum · 05/02/2021 13:46

Yes lightand, you've made your views on "sexual sin" quite clear in the past. Angry

lightand · 05/02/2021 13:47

Repent and be baptised is the shorter way to say it.
There has to be repentance.
No one has to list their sins, God will know them, but you have to have a repentant heart, and say so.
And you have to believe that Jesus is Lord.

Original poster
Beseigedbykillersquirrels · 05/02/2021 13:47

A sinner is someone who commits a sin. The dictionary definition of a sinner is,
"A person who transgresses against divine law by committing an immoral act or acts".
Are you suggesting that she believes that homosexuality is a sin but those who engage in homosexual acts aren't sinners? Really?

OP posts:
Afromeg · 05/02/2021 13:48

OP, to be fair from what you've written alone, I'd say she's talking to Christians, not 'everyone'. She wouldn't be able to call anyone a lukewarm Christian unless they're Christians already.

Although I'm not sure she can stand perfectly to say there aren't things she's guilty of (as Jesus said, He who is without sin cast the first stone), she's referring to lukewarm Christians who cherry-pick teachings to follow in the bible (Possibly referring to Christians who have come out as gay). The lukewarm thing is based on a specific scripture and what the general Christian population accept to be real/serious sin or not.

From where I stand though, most Christians are 'lukewarm' in that they cherrypick what to follow or not.

Disclaimer: I don't agree with her views and I don't believe homosexuality is a choice or wrong even IF someone chooses to live as gay person. I didn't think I needed to say it because it's unnecessary but I probably do, so I don't get 'cancelled' Grin

Original poster
Beseigedbykillersquirrels · 05/02/2021 13:49

In addition, why should they have to apologise to her god if they aren't, in fact, sinners?

OP posts:
Butchyrestingface · 05/02/2021 13:52

"Are you suggesting that she believes that homosexuality is a sin but those who engage in homosexual acts aren't sinners? Really?

No, I am asking whether she has characterised gay people in the way that you describe.

I will ask again: has she called gay people "wicked sinners"? I don't know the answer - it is a genuine question.

BurfdayCaked · 05/02/2021 14:00

I hope her ‘strongly held beliefs’ keep her warm at night. I doubt she’ll get much work after this.

Butchyrestingface · 05/02/2021 14:02

@BurfdayCaked

I hope her ‘strongly held beliefs’ keep her warm at night. I doubt she’ll get much work after this.
I imagine that's in part why she suing for the amount she's suing for. She will have absolutely torpedoed her career, since everyone now knows she doesn't want to play characters whose sexuality/lifestyle choices she doesn't approve of. Grin
Siepie · 05/02/2021 14:17

You don’t have to have read the script of The Color Purple to realise that homosexuality is one of the themes. The book, film or even just the Wikipedia page would do!

I don’t work in theatre or similar, so I don’t know what current practice is. I am a lesbian though. I don’t have any issues with a straight actress playing a lesbian. I would have an issue with an actress kissing a woman (for money) who thinks that it’s wrong for me to kiss my wife.

IncorrigibleTitmouse · 05/02/2021 21:40

What an idiot. And I don't buy her not knowing what the role was about as a professional actress. It's one of the most famous books ever written!

onesixseven · 06/02/2021 17:14

"Responding to the hearing today, Seyi commented: “Since I lost the role as Celie and was fired by my agency I have not been employed. All doors have been intentionally closed to me and people who used to give me the time of day now ignore me. My career was more than a job to me, it was something that I loved."

Well duh, when you sue a theatre other theatres aren't going to want to hire you.

Comefromaway · 17/02/2021 09:40

She's lost.

I actually thought she had a very good case until she started spouting all that rubbish about refusing to play the character as a lesbian and not having read the script.

No-one is ever going to employ her again.

dapsnotplimsolls · 17/02/2021 11:49

'No-one is ever going to employ her again.'

Oh dear, how sad, never mind.

GrimDamnFanjo · 17/02/2021 14:13

Acting is a strange career choice for a homophobe...

H00th00t · 17/02/2021 21:52

She got what she deserved.

Brinstar · 18/02/2021 14:51

@lightand

I am a Christian. As regards the woman and her plight - I personally dont have any sympathy. She should have done due diligence.

As regards the Bible.
Sexual sin is a theme throughout the entire Bible, which I would have thought everyone knows by now, as it has been discussed everyone ad infinum for about the last 25 years.

Read the Bible for yourself. Dont rely on others to do it for you. Bibles are not expensive items to buy, and 2nd hand ones are even cheaper.
No one else can get you to Heaven. You have to do it for yourself. You can definitely be helped, but you cant rely on other people to get you there.

Ugh, no thanks.
itsgettingwierd · 18/02/2021 15:18

@Arobase

What is current thinking on gay people playing straight roles?
It's mixed from research I've done.

Same with non disabled people playing disabled roles.

There seems to be a huge movement currently that if someone plays a character that doesn't reflect that persons personal experience it's being played wrong.

My ds had a physical disability and autism. He was still cast in 39 steps and sweeny Todd. Ok, it was a school production but he was best at the role and acting it so got the part.