This actress isn’t backing down after she was “canceled” for old social media posts. She’s fighting back.
Seyi Omooba was an up-and-coming actress who had just been cast in the role of her dreams — as Celie, the lead in a stage production of The Color Purple. In the 1985 feature film adaptation of the Alice Walker novel, Whoopi Goldberg played Celie and was nominated for an Academy Award and won the Golden Globe award for best lead actress.
In 2017 she had stolen the show at a gala concert production of The Color Purple in London where one critic said that her vocals were “jaw-droppingly good.”
But just a day after she was named as Celie, her dream was over. A fellow actor had dug up a Facebook post by Omooba from 2014 where she wrote, “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…” took a screenshot of it and tagged her on Twitter asking Ombooba if she stood by it.
Aaron Lee Lambert, the actor that tagged Ombooba, stars in the West End production of Hamilton in London. Lambert said that Omooba had to clarify her remarks because Celie is a gay character.
Imagine having a successful lead actor take down a young, rising star because of a Facebook post when she was 20.
It’s a real jerk move.
It’s a good thing that when Lambert snagged his lead role there wasn’t someone sifting through his social media accounts looking to take him down.
Now, six months on and with her career in ruins, the 25-year-old is suing, saying she is a victim of religious discrimination.
Last night, the actress told The Mail on Sunday she is no longer even invited to auditions.
‘I’m heartbroken,’ she said. ‘If I’m unable to get back to the stage, then I feel there is no point. It’s the only thing I have ever wanted since I was a young girl.’
After training at the prestigious Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, the London-born actress quickly found parts in the West End and at the National Theatre.
After Lambert posted the old tweet, Omooba was contacted by her agent and was told to not speak to the media and keep her head down. She was then urged to not just delete the post, but to apologize for it.
‘I really wanted the role but what they wanted me to do was completely against my faith. I did not want to lie just to keep a job.’
She was dropped from the starring role and dumped by her agents. She has since contacted six agents who had once been eager to sign her up. Only one responded, describing her as ‘talented but misguided’ and brainwashed by her faith.
Now, she has instructed lawyers to file for breach of contract against the Curve Theatre in Leicester and her former agents, Michael Garrett Associates.
In a joint statement, Leicester’s Curve Theatre and the Birmingham Hippodrome made it clear that Seyi Omooba was no longer involved in the production.
‘The comments made by Seyi have caused significant and widely expressed concerns both on social media and in the wider press. Following careful reflection, it has been decided Seyi will no longer be involved with the production.’
So, is it ok for Christians to express their beliefs according to the Bible or not? That’s what the case seeks to determine.
Omooba is a devoted Christian who grew up in church, honing her singing talent in the church choir. Her father is Pastor Ade Ombooba is the co-founder of Christian Concern, an evangelical group that supports the rights of Christians.
Ms Omooba is adamant she is not homophobic.
She said: ‘I just quoted what the Bible says about homosexuality, the need for repentance, but ultimately God’s love for all humanity. 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.’
It’s not just her fellow church-goers that agree with her, though. She says that there are many actors that support her including those in same-sex relationships.
‘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.’
Ms Omooba is determined to fight for the right to express her religious views. ‘I want to make sure no other Christian has to go through something like this,’ she said.
Ms Omooba is being supported by the Christian Legal Centre.
Source: Daily Mail
Andrea Williams, Chief Executive of the Christian Legal Center said, “This story sends a chilling message that if you express mainstream biblical views, you will be punished and lose your career if you do not immediately renounce your beliefs. This cannot go unchallenged and we are determined to fight for justice in this case.”
“Cancel Culture” is running rampant and your entire future can be destroyed for a dumb social media post or, as is the case here, just a social media post that someone else disagrees with.
I’d love to ask these people hell-bent on digging through everyone else’s social media if they think they should be judged by every single thing that they’ve ever said, written, or joked about.
But then, sometimes Cancel Culture comes back and bites the one who tries to do the canceling.
Like in this case:
NO GOOD DEED: Cancel Culture Comes For Guy Who Raised $1M For Children’s Charity
Good luck, Aaron Lee Lambert. You might want to sift through your social media accounts!
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