Well, this is awkward. A Broadway musical actress from the U.K. was just outed as a major homophobe.
Actress Oluwaseyi Omooba was recently cast as Celie in Leicester’s Curve and Birmingham Hippodrome’s co-production of the hit Broadway musical of The Color Purple.
We are delighted to announce our stellar cast for The Color Purple, co-produced by @CurveLeicester, Leading the cast as Celie is @Seyiomooba alongside @SimplyJoFrancis (Shug Avery), @AkoMitchell (Mister), @SimonAnthonyR (Harpo) and @karenmavx (Sofia) ?https://t.co/KIIcMXN0ex
— Birmingham Hippodrome (@brumhippodrome) March 14, 2019
Birmingham Hippodrome is the UK’s most popular single auditorium theaters that attracts over half a million visitors each year, making it one of the most successful and popular theaters in the entire world.
But the theater’s leading lady came under fire last week after a Facebook post she wrote in 2014 in which she said homosexuality was unnatural resurfaced.
The post was shared by Hamilton actor Aaron Lee Lambert, who tweeted: “@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,” he added, “I think you owe your LGBTQ peers an explanation. Immediately.”
@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 (@aleelambert) March 15, 2019
Omooba, whose father, pastor Adegboyega Omooba, advocates for gay conversion therapy, hasn’t yet responded to the controversy.
Her last tweet, written on March 14, celebrates her antigay father, who was recently awarded the MBE.
Adegboyega Omooba MBE To God be the glory pic.twitter.com/2GAu5KSBtU
— Oluwaseyi Omooba (@Seyiomooba) March 14, 2019
According to iNews:
Pastor Omooba has been involved in a string of anti-LGBTQ+ campaigns over the course of his career, including a failed attempt to stop anti-discrimination legislation against gay people in 2006. The legislation tackled discrimination banning hotels from refusing bookings from same-sex couples. He also campaigned against same-sex marriage, saying equal unions “devalue the meaning of marriage itself.” The pastor’s organization Christian Concern, have rallied against LGBTQ+ equality and identities since they were first formed in 2004.
Meanwhile, Birmingham Hippodrome says on Twitter that the theater is “investigating” the matter and plans to release a full statement in the near future.
On Friday a social media post from 2014 by one of THE COLOR PURPLE cast members was brought to our attention. The views shared in this post do not in any way reflect the views of Curve or Birmingham Hippodrome. (1/2)
— Birmingham Hippodrome (@brumhippodrome) March 18, 2019
We are continuing to investigate this and a full statement will be issued as a matter of priority. (2/2)
— Birmingham Hippodrome (@brumhippodrome) March 18, 2019
Wicked Dickie
And?
Zidler1206
Exactly. #NotNews Who’s mind is she gonna change from that stage? Nobody!
Mick406
She just shot herself in the foot with a bullet fired almost 5 years ago. The shot is just now hitting its target. I noticed this theater was quick to disassociate with her and her story. “The views shared in this post do not in any way reflect the views of Curve or Birmingham Hippodrome.” Haaaaaaaa!
jjose712
And at least she could be a consecuent homophobe and not play a lesbian character. I think it’s not asking that much
DCguy
Are you upset that there may be backlash to a homophobic bigot advocating action against LGBT people?
QueerTruth
You CANNOT work within the entertainment industry and be openly homophobic. And this lady is taking a lead role in The Color Purple of all musicals?
It’s laughable.
Obviously, she won’t be now.
BYE lady who we never heard of and never will hear of again.
Vince
Hopefully they’ll can her as fast as Jussie Smollett.
Wicked Dickie
‘..BYE lady who we never heard of…’ exactly, you’ve never heard of her, but Broadway and West End (London) knows of her. By the way, the only Drag Queen I can name is RuPaul. So your “QueerTruth” is not valid.
QueerTruth
Wicked Dickie,
Feel free to comment on all my comments. Obviously you have a crush on me and you’re confused since your statement below doesn’t make a damn bit of sense.
LMAO
KBaccomplice
Bye Felicia
Vince
I’m tired of lukewarm christianity too. We really need to get back to our bible values. How about this one dumb lady.. Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. (Ephesians 6:5 NLT)
I hate bigots like this even more then the KKK and Nazi’s just for her sheer stupidity of history.
boymikefl
Why do people believe in religion? Christanity, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Scientology etc? I believe in God. Period. No rules, common sense. Be a good person. No punishment and no fear of my God. I don’t understand (in America) the support of a scandalous “religion”. Organized religion’s are good to disagree on, hate, judge, discriminate and wars. My Aunt thinks that you have to physically go to church. I don’t get that concept. Maybe for social judging. I don’t like religion. A relationship with God is within.
Daggerman
..NO incorrect..homosexuality IS natural/normal because if you actually learn about the animal kingdom you will know the act of sex is not solely down to heterosexuals in humans. ‘Religion and superstition’ throughout history has led to a vast amount of ignorance and inequality..
KBaccomplice
All sexuality involving consenting adults is natural. It’s all about what is natural for the individual. What is natural for ME may not the same as what is natural for YOU or HER or HIM or THEM. Nobody can force themselves to feel attraction for another. It has to just come to you and whatever is natural will come. For some, straight is natural, for others gay is natural, etc. These bigots need a wake up call.
ShiningSex
LOL!!! HOW DOES BROADWAY AND HOMOPHOBIA GO TOGETHER? SHE IS IN THE MOST GAY BUSINESS NEXT TO FASHION AND INTERIOR DESIGN. WHAT AN IDIOT!!!
[email protected]
hi sexy
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
I am sure if someone were to call her a “obnoxious, morbidly obese, fat black cow” there would be outrage.
Yet she, a member of a minority that has been persecuted and hated on is perfectly comfortable spewing hatred upon another minority.
chi eg
Um, there IS outrage over her comments, as pointed out by the Hamilton actor as well as the theater who is investigating her so not sure why you’re race-baiting.
[email protected]
ok, good
jjose712
And it’s difficult to believe the people who cast her in the role didn’t know anything about her.
Her father is a public figure (and antigay public figure) and there were a good bunch of actors saying she didn’t change a bit, even when she was in a production full of gay people.
Unfortunately for her, theatre is not the best place to be an homophobe. She should try a film career, there’s more room for homophobia there (not too much, but at least some)
Hillers
She’s going to catch a world of shit for this, and that’s really not the best way to change peoples’ minds. Hopefully, she’ll learn from her co-stars and fans, provided she has any left after this.
Jack Meoff
And the count down to recasting this role starts in 3, 2, 1…………….
theafricanwiththemouth
oh, why am i not surprised. She’s a Christian brit, with strong Nigerian Yoruba roots. You should hear them condemn homosexuality in their traditional language. It’s much worse and mean.
Christians my asš!! Fu*k religion!! I’ve grown a special kind of hatred for it.
bcborn
Talk about lukewarm… Who are you to judge? Perhaps keeping your mouth shut might help contain that learned ignorance in your heart.
dean089
I’ll try to contain my shock.
t
How awesome that she just shortened her broadway career in one fell swoop. Never mind that the men she works on stage with have the propensity of being gay/bi/sexually fluid. Nice job PRECIOUS! Good luck on that next audition!
JAWIWA
Just checked Oluwaseyi Omooba on IMDB. She has no Broadway credits. Therefore she is not a Broadway actress. Acting in a play that has been produced on Broadway does not make one a Broadway actor. If it did, we’d have Broadway actors in every community theater in the country.
inbama
Actually, casting a homophobe in Colored Purple makes perfect sense being its author Alice Walker has recently been exposed as a raving anti-Semite.
irbaboon
christians are such jerks
DCguy
Funny how these bigots who try to use religion as an excuse never seem to know about the OTHER Biblical verses.
For example, this woman doesn’t seem to be aware of the verses that tell women to stay quiet and to be beaten if they speak up to try to influence the opinion of men. Her entire post was trying to influence people literally violating the Bible she claims to revere.
Tired of the bigots, fire her and get somebody in there who can do the role justice.
johnnymcmxxx
She has dropped poison on her career. But she could find work on Christian tv and in Christian movies. The legitimate theater won’t use her.
ShowMeGuy
Matthew 19:12 For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who is able to receive this receive it.
Eunuchs are homosexuals. Get over yourself, Oluwaseyi.
johnny
I would like to believe that my LBGTQ brothers and sisters are bright enough to understand that nothing is solved by attacking our adversaries with the same hate as they’ve shown us. In doing so, we are no better than they. Of course, this young lady’s post enrages me but I know that firing back at her and the ignorance surrounding her upbringing won’t make the problem go away. Most likely, it will affirm that she is right, in her mind. She quotes from a mistranslated Bible and she needs to be shown the history of this literature and how it was used among corrupt clergymen and power-hungry politicians of the day. If you are one of these people, perhaps it is bothering so much because you don’t understand why people of today feel the way they do and use their false god (their Bible) as a weapon and shield with which to mask their fear and hate. Perhaps it is feeding your own insecurities.
No, this is not the way to handle these situations. Education and living by example are your best tools to fight bigotry. Unless, of course, you just enjoy the fight … in which case, as I said previously, that makes you no better than your “enemies.”
Daggerman
..f**k o*f homosexuality IS NATURAL, it’s always been. What’s unnatural is religion, beliefs, and traditions that through time have cemented ideas and brainwashed us into thinking it’s a sin or the devils work for instance….
KBaccomplice
I’m a straight white theater lady but I gotta tell you this pisses me off. She should be fired. All kinds of problematic. This is the kind of thing I truly do not get. 1. How do you expect to be homophobic in an industry that owes it’s success to and is run by the LGBTQ+ community? Lady, if you don’t like the gays, you shouldn’t be doing Theater. 2. How can you be homophobic and play an LGBTQ+ character? Like, WTH????? Um, Celie is GAY! How on earth can you play a character you are unable to relate to or have any empathy for? Just to be honest, no way in hell would I, as a director, cast a homophobe in a LGBTQ+ role. Hell to the No.
I also just don’t get how anyone who is a member of one marginalized group can be prejudiced against another marginalized group. SMDH. We got enough of that shit coming from the white supremacists.
KBaccomplice
I am also wondering if she actually read the script all the way through, has seen the play, or seen the movie? Does she know that Celie and Shug kiss?