Christian actress Seyi Omooba was ordered by a UK court to pay $350,000 after losing the lawsuit over her 2019 firing, the Telegraph reported March 13.
Omooba, 29, was dismissed from the stage production of “The Color Purple” over comments perceived as homophobic, with a court ordering her to pay legal costs, according to the outlet. The issue reportedly arose from a social media post, leading to a five-year fight over claims that she was discriminated against for her religious beliefs. Omooba lost her role as Celie — a character depicted as lesbian — in the 2019 show, the outlet reported.
A Christian actress who was sacked from a stage show of The Color Purple over homophobic comments has lost a five-year discrimination case https://t.co/tJr1mqxoWu
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) March 13, 2024
It was previously reported by the Telegraph that the actress was fired after her previous post about homosexuality resurfaced. “I do not believe you can be born gay, and I do not believe homosexuality is right. Christians, we need to step up and love but also tell the truth of God’s word. I am tired of lukewarm Christianity,” she posted on Facebook, the Telegraph reported. “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,” she continued in her post. (RELATED:‘ I Was Being Hunted Down’: Gina Carano Announces Lawsuit Against Disney, Teams Up With Elon Musk)
She was called out by actor Aaron Lee Lambert for accepting a homosexual role despite her remarks on homosexuality. “@Seyiomooba 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,” Lambert wrote on X.
@Seyiomooba 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. pic.twitter.com/GK2xbzZYgy
— Aaron Lee Lambert (he/him) 🍉 (@aleelambert) March 15, 2019
She then admitted to not reading the script or understanding Celie’s sexual orientation before accepting the role, The Telegraph reported. At the beginning of her career, Omooba reportedly informed her agent that her Christian faith would prevent her from accepting certain roles. Her lawsuit against the theatre and her former agents was reportedly rejected by the employment tribunal, and she has lost an appeal in court.