After enduring a five-year legal battle, Christian actress Seyi Omooba has been ordered to cover legal expenses exceeding $350,000, following her dismissal from a stage adaptation of “The Color Purple” over alleged homophobic remarks.
The saga commenced with a social media post by Omooba, daughter of a pastor, which led to her removal from the production where she portrayed Celie, a lesbian character. Omooba, 29, maintained she was unaware of Celie’s sexual orientation when accepting the role and had not read the script.
Despite her upbringing in a devout Christian family and past refusals to accept roles conflicting with her beliefs, the tribunal emphasized her lack of preparation and understanding of the role. Notably, Omooba had previously declined roles, including one in “The Book of Mormon,” due to her religious convictions.
During the legal proceedings, attention was drawn to a 2014 Facebook post by Omooba, questioning the legitimacy of being born gay and labeling homosexuality as incorrect. This post sparked controversy, prompting the theatre to demand a retraction, which Omooba refused, leading to the termination of her contract.
Aaron Lee Lambert, associated with the musical “Hamilton,” brought attention to Omooba’s past post in a tweet, questioning her consistency and demanding an explanation given her casting as an LGBTQ character.
In his tweet, Lambert asked: “Do you still stand by this post? Or are you happy to remain a hypocrite? Seeing as you’ve now been announced to be playing an LGBTQ character, I think you owe your LGBTQ peers an explanation. Immediately.”
“I just quoted what the Bible says about homosexuality, the need for repentance, but ultimately God’s love for all humanity,” Omooba reiterated. “I stand by what I wrote, but had I known that it would have come to this, I would have set my account to the privacy mode.
“In the post, Omooba urged Christians to “tell the truth” about homosexuality, writing: “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 homosexuality 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. Which is that a man should leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. Genesis 2:24.
“God loves everyone, just because He doesn’t agree with your decisions doesn’t mean He doesn’t love you. Christians we need to step up and love but also tell the truth of God’s word,” she added. “I am tired of lukewarm Christianity, be inspired to stand up for what you believe and the truth…”
Supported by the Christian Legal Centre, Omooba initiated legal action in 2019, maintaining her stance on the Bible’s teachings regarding homosexuality while expressing regret over the consequences of her post.
“I have support from actors that I’ve worked with, including those in same-sex relationships, who say that even though they don’t agree with my views, they know that I’m not hateful or malicious,” Omooba stated.
Despite some colleagues’ support, Omooba’s legal appeal, including objections to the substantial legal fees, was unsuccessful. The Employment Appeal Tribunal emphasized her failure to address concerns about playing a lesbian character and her lack of efforts to inform herself about the role.
While Omooba stands by her beliefs, the legal outcome represents a significant setback in her career, highlighting the challenges faced by individuals navigating personal convictions within the entertainment industry.
Credit: The Christian Post
