opera australia sacks soprano over antigay slur
Monday 7 July 2025
Last Updated : GMT 05:17:37
Emiratesvoice, emirates voice

Opera Australia sacks soprano over anti-gay slur

Emiratesvoice, emirates voice

Emiratesvoice, emirates voice Opera Australia sacks soprano over anti-gay slur

Gay rights activists rally
Sydney - AFP

Leading soprano Tamar Iveri on Monday had her contract torn up by Opera Australia for "unconscionable" anti-gay comments posted on her Facebook page that sparked a storm of protest.
The Georgian, daughter of acclaimed baritone Avtandil Javakishvili, referred to homosexuals as "fecal masses" in reacting to a gay pride march in Tblisi.
"I was quite proud of the fact how Georgian society spat at the parade ... please, stop vigorous attempts to bring West's 'fecal masses' in the mentality of the people by means of propaganda," said the post, which was later taken down.
The comments, made 18 months ago, sparked a backlash in Australia, culminating as Iveri was due to perform the role of Desdemona in Verdi's Otello from July 5 at the Sydney Opera House.
Many people threatened to boycott the company or cancel their subscriptions if they continued to employ her, while lashing out at Opera Australia on social media for not taking a tougher stance.
"Opera Australia has reached agreement with Ms Iveri to immediately release her from her contract with the company," the company said in a statement Monday.
"Ms Iveri and her husband have both made public statements in the last 48 hours with regards to comments attributed to Ms Iveri.
"Ms Iveri has unreservedly apologised for those comments and views. Opera Australia believes the views as stated to be unconscionable."
In a Facebook post on Saturday, Iveri blamed her husband for the offensive comments made. She said he was "deeply religious" and has a "tough attitude towards gay people".
"He copied my text, changed it considerably and posted it under my name," she said.
"You might imagine that I was not happy with that at all and I immediately deleted it when I saw the text about half an hour later.
"This text does not express my own opinion. I'm afraid it was too late and the text was already spreading in the Internet."
Iveri made her debut at the 2004 Salzburg Festival and has performed at Metropolitan Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Arena di Verona and L'Opera Bastille.
Sydney is home to a colourful gay pride parade which attracts thousands of visitors each year.

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

opera australia sacks soprano over antigay slur opera australia sacks soprano over antigay slur

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

opera australia sacks soprano over antigay slur opera australia sacks soprano over antigay slur

 



GMT 10:31 2014 Tuesday ,23 December

Mirages of failure: Lebanon cannot wait

GMT 05:17 2024 Wednesday ,07 February

Amazon to open first cashierless shop

GMT 11:14 2017 Saturday ,22 July

Smiley face found on ancient pot in Turkey

GMT 00:49 2017 Friday ,13 January

Meet Cats choreographer Gillian Lynne

GMT 09:57 2016 Tuesday ,08 November

Marks and Spencer: To shut 100 stores in overhaul

GMT 06:37 2012 Wednesday ,21 March

Toxins found in cheap jewellery

GMT 10:30 2015 Monday ,02 March

Designer to the stars dresses disabled catwalk

GMT 08:57 2017 Wednesday ,10 May

Counter terrorism strategies should be compliant

GMT 20:48 2017 Wednesday ,22 March

Sisi reiterates Egypt's support for Lebanon

GMT 06:59 2017 Sunday ,22 October

Philippines' Duterte says he will shoot criminals

GMT 19:57 2018 Tuesday ,23 January

Farm-fresh from Kerala to the UAE, in just one day

GMT 09:36 2018 Wednesday ,10 January

Iran investigates death of young man in custody

GMT 08:51 2017 Tuesday ,15 August

HAAD implements next stage of healthcare reforms

GMT 20:22 2017 Monday ,27 November

Army attacks Saudi-paid mercenaries’ sites in Marib

GMT 08:56 2017 Thursday ,13 July

Reasons of price increase of services

GMT 08:13 2017 Sunday ,13 August

Abdul Hussain Abdul Redha passes away
 
 Emirates Voice Facebook,emirates voice facebook  Emirates Voice Twitter,emirates voice twitter Emirates Voice Rss,emirates voice rss  Emirates Voice Youtube,emirates voice youtube  Emirates Voice Youtube,emirates voice youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©

emiratesvoieen emiratesvoiceen emiratesvoiceen emiratesvoiceen
emiratesvoice emiratesvoice emiratesvoice
emiratesvoice
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
emiratesvoice, Emiratesvoice, Emiratesvoice