The saga initiated from a social media post that led to her dismissal from the production, sparking a five-year legal conflict revolving around accusations of religious bias.

Omooba, aged 29 and the daughter of a pastor, encountered termination from her portrayal of Celie, a lesbian character, in the 2019 production following the resurfacing of her comments on homosexuality online. Omooba, who hadn’t familiarised herself with the play’s script prior to accepting the role, argued that she was unaware of the character’s sexual orientation.

However, her legal challenge against the theatre and her former agents was rejected, with the tribunal underscoring her lack of preparation and comprehension of the role, as reported by The Telegraph. The Employment Appeal Tribunal examined Omooba’s background, acknowledging her upbringing in a deeply religious Christian family and her history of declining roles that conflicted with her beliefs.

According to The Sunday Times, the judge remarked that Omooba “was aware she would not portray a lesbian character, yet she had not communicated this to the theatre, or made an effort to understand the demands of the role of Celie.”

Although she was acquainted with the film adaptation of “The Colour Purple,” based on Alice Walker’s acclaimed novel, which minimised the lesbian relationship central to the narrative, and despite the production being staged in Birmingham and Leicester, England, she failed to comprehend the stage adaptation’s emphasis on this aspect.

Source: christianpost.com