Opera Australia has dropped Georgian soprano Tamar Iveri following controversy regarding homophobic comments posted on her Facebook page.
The comments were made in an open letter the singer wrote to Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili last year following protests by LGBTQ activists on International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia. Iveri said she was proud that Georgian citizens had “spat at the parade”. It has been reported that many LGBTIQ activists were beaten by Orthodox Christian demonstrators.
‘‘Do not try to wrap this mass in beautiful packages, pour Chanel perfume on it and present it to people as if it was something of medical, recreational qualities,’’ she said in the letter.
‘‘No matter how unhappy ‘friendly West’ might become, fortunately, the Georgian people are well aware of what fruits, offered by the West in their menu, to eat and what to discard. Just like my small dog guesses it.’’
A petition urging Opera Australia to fire the singer on the website AllOut gained over 4,500 signatures.
On Saturday Iveri claimed the letter was written in response to the parade in question allegedly clashing with a commemoration event for Georgian soldiers killed in Afghanistan. However, it has been reported that the commemoration event occurred a day earlier. She also claimed her husband was responsible for the comments: “Besides myself my husband was using my Facebook account at that time and he is a very religious man with a tough attitude towards gay people. He copied my text, changed it considerably and posted it under my name. 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.”
Georgian gay rights group Identoba noted that Iveri previously offered an apology for her comments with no mention of her husband. The group withdrew their previous acceptance of her apology due to her change in story.
The singer yesterday shared a status from her husband’s Facebook account stating in part: “Tamar Iveri’s released letter on behalf of the Homophobia , which caused so many stir followed by with , and almost caused a stir in the manifesto, was almost my writing. At that time we used a common Facebook profile; At the same time, I thought to use Tamar’s popularity, and to reached my voice to numerous audience I published a letter on her behalf. The letter was signed on our Facebook page, when Tamar returned home she erased the letter and got very upset. However, a few minutes were enough for people and for Georgian press.”
Opera Australia today released the following statement via Facebook confirming that Iveri would no longer be performing in the Sydney production of ‘Othello’ in July and August.
“Opera Australia confirms soprano Ms Tamar Iveri will not be performing in Otello.
“Opera Australia has reached agreement with Ms Iveri to immediately release her from her contract with the company.
“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.”
Sophie Joske
