Appeal: Seyi Omooba v Michael Garrett Associates & Leicester Theatre Trust Ltd

Actress appeals ruling which found she was not discriminated and harassed on the basis of religious belief

Dec 12, 2023

Actress Seyi Omooba is appealing an employment tribunal ruling which found she was not discriminated and harassed on the basis of religious belief by her agent, Michael Garrett Associates, and Leicester Theatre Trust Ltd.

Omooba, who is a Christian, was cast to play the character of Celie - who is a lesbian - in a stage production of The Color Purple at The Curve theatre in Leicester.

Before rehearsal began, a controvery broke out on social media concerning a post Omooba had made on her Facebook page in 2014 where she had made comments about homosexuality. The media storm came to the attention of the theatre and Omooba was sacked from the production, and then dropped by her agent.

The theatre ‘unconditionally’ offered Omooba her full salary for the role, but she refused to accept. Instead, she brought legal action and sought almost £30,000 from the theatre, and a further £98,752 from her agent, for injury to feelings and reputational damage.

Judge Goodman and the panel rejected her requests and ordered her to pay costs of over £310,000 to her former agency and The Curve in Leicester.

Read the original ruling here

Read the costs ruling here

Status

The appeal was heard before The Honourable Mrs Justice Eady DBE and take place over 3 days from 12-14th December 2023. Judgment has been reserved.

UPDATE 6 March 2024: Judge Eady ruled dismissal of the appeal. Read the judgment here

Live Tweeting sessions

12th December morning Part 1, Part 2 - Niazi Fetto KC, counsel for Claimant Seyi Omooba, begins his submissions. (Note part 2 is short due to court technical difficulties)

12th December afternoon -Niazi Fetto concludes his submissions. Tom Coglin KC for Leister theatre begins his submissions. (again cut short due to court technical difficulties)

13th December morning - Tom Coglin KC continues (again cut short due to court technical difficulties)

13th December afternoon - Hearing continues (again cut short due to court technical difficulties)

14 December morning - hearing continues but cut short after 1 hour, 15 minutes due to court technical difficulties.

Abbreviations

J - The Honourable Mrs Justice Eady DBE

SO - Ms Seyi Omooba, claimant

NF - Niazi Fetto KC, representing Seyi Omooba

MG or R1 - Michael Garrett Associates, first respondent

CM - Chris Milsom, representing Michael Garrett Associates

LT or R2- Leicester Theatre Trust, second respondent

TC - Tom Coghlin KC, representing Leicester Theatre Trust

CLC - Christian Legal Centre

GOR - Genuine Occupational Requirement (under terms of the Equality Act 2010)

BoC - Breach of Contract

PC - Protected characteristic

Press Coverage

Here are links to a selection of relevant press coverage about this case. These links are included without comment and are not endorsed by Tribunal Tweets. This is a sample of coverage only, with most recent first - it is not comprehensive. Please DM our main Twitter account to submit coverage from an established news outlet. Any paywalled article must be archived.