News to all Broadway lovers! The star of Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Tony Award winner, Karen Olivo will not be returning to Broadway to protest the industry’s silence on abusive workplace behaviour. Scott Rudin, an infamous theater producer, has been exposed for his alleged abusive behaviour towards his employees. This allegation of workplace harassment includes tantrums, racist outbursts, and abusive actions. In one instance, Rudin smashed a computer monitor onto an assistant’s hand, causing a trip to the emergency room. Unfortunately, the industry has been protecting Rudin and staying silent on any actions that should be taken to address this discriminatory workplace behaviour.
The producers of Moulin Rouge! have confirmed Olivo’s departure, their statements reading, “[w]e applaud and support Karen’s advocacy work to create a safe, diverse, and equitable theater industry for all”. Olivo has released an Instagram video to restate her support to building a healthier industry for all future artists. She states, “Building a better industry for my students is more important than me putting money in my pockets. Building a better industry – I’m yelling now – building a better industry is more important than putting money in my pockets…. I value humanity more; I want a theatre industry that matches my integrity.”
Major theater unions, such as the SAG-AFTRA, the Actors’ Equity Association and American Federation of Musicians Local 802, have condemned the allowance of the repetition of this ‘deeply alarming’ behaviour.
Workplace discrimination in entertainment has continued to worsen. With producers and ‘career makers and breakers’ in positions of power, personal safety in the pursuit of a successful career can be jeopardized. Individuals who abuse their social standings should continue to face consequences for their toxic contributions to the workplace environment. To make the industry a safer place for all creatives to work in the future, cast and crew members should not be penalized for speaking out.
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Published April 29, 2021
Written by Fiona Xu ~ Graphics created by Abinaya Balaji
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