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Soprano Tamar Iveri, who was supposed to star in Otello at the Sydney Opera House next month, has been released from her contract because of the “unconscionable” comments, Opera Australia has said in a statement.
In a post on her Facebook page 18 months ago, the Georgian opera singer compared gay and lesbian people to fecal matter, calling on the Georgian President to “stop vigorous attempts to bring West’s ‘fecal masses’ in the mentality of the people by means of propaganda”.
The homophobic comments were made following a gay rights parade that passed through the yard of an Orthodox Church in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi. The small rally clashed with thousands of anti-gay protesters who were reportedly led by priests, resulting in multiple injuries among the pro-gay demonstrators.
“I was quite proud of the fact how Georgian society spat at the parade… Often, in certain cases, it is necessary to break jaws in order to be appreciated as a nation in the future, and to be taken into account seriously,” Iveri’s Facebook post said.
“Cancer metastases need to be removed in the beginning of the process … tomorrow they will demand same-sex marriages”.
The Soprano Tamar Iveri has starred in productions around the world.
The Soprano Tamar Iveri has starred in productions around the world.
The Soprano Tamar Iveri has starred in productions around the world.
While Ms Iveri has “unreservedly apologised for those comments and views” and denied writing them, saying her husband wrote the offensive comments, the backlash was so severe that Opera Australia swiftly removed her from the production.
“Opera Australia believes the views as stated to be unconscionable,” the company’s statement said.
Its Facebook page received more than 1000 posts on the matter including threats of boycotts and subscription cancellations.
