01/05/2024
LGBTQIA+ people will be under no illusions that arguments about "free speech" online are used as a smokescreen for apologists of the far right who make threats and engage in harassment of minorities online. Now the BBC News Channel reports that a theatre company which is working with film star and gay pin up favourite Tom Holland, has had to issue a rebuttal after incredible racism was directed at the co-star of its production of Romeo and Juliet. Noor Nanji, reporting for the BBC, says that On Friday, the Jamie Lloyd Company said there had been "a barrage of deplorable racial abuse online directed towards a member of our company". Francesca Amewudah-Rivers co stars in the new production as Juliet. "We are working with a remarkable group of artists. We insist that they are free to create work without facing online harassment", the Theatre company said in a statement. "We will continue to support and protect everyone in our company at all costs. Any abuse will not be tolerated and will be reported". The show will run at the Duke of York's Theatre in London from 11 May until 3 August. Meanwhile, one transgender commentator, Poppy124 online quipped "There's the free speech all these Daily Mail readers bang on about when they attack the SNP and its new hate crime laws. They just want the freedom for themselves, the freedom to hate and maim".
