Zuri Washington was set to complete a tour for the revival of the “1776” musical, which began last February. Her contract was terminated last week.
Black actress Zuri Washington is suing a major
Thursday, September 19, 2024
Zuri Washington was set to complete a tour for the revival of the “1776” musical, which began last February. Her contract was terminated last week.
Black actress Zuri Washington is suing a major
She claimed to have contacted the tour’s management after being selected in December 2022 to communicate her uneasiness about wearing her natural hair and preference for wearing a wig or getting a braided style. Though she sent several emails to gain clarity and finalize the show’s hair plans, no one responded to her messages.
By the time Washington received an answer about the course of action for her hairstyle, the cast had already arrived in Utica, New York, for the tour’s first stop. Washington said her request for a wig, alongside those of her other castmates of color who made the same request, had been denied despite her white castmates being provided with them.
Now, through her lawsuit, Washington is fighting to hold the “1776” production company and staff accountable for their bias. She said she hopes being vocal about her experience will encourage other actors to speak up for themselves in discriminatory environments.
“I used to think I’m the only one this has happened to, and it’s so uncomfortable to hash through the stories,” Washington said. “But if I can make a difference in this way, it will have been worth it.”
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The post Black actress sues Broadway company for discrimination and retaliation after being denied a wig appeared first on TheGrio.
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