British conductor sacked by US music festival after 'innocent' joke with his African-American friend was labelled racist

by Guest Sun Sep 10, 2017 9:33 am

An acclaimed British conductor has been fired from a prestigious American music festival after a seemingly innocent joke he made to a black friend was labelled racist. Matthew Halls was removed as artistic director of the Oregon Bach Festival following an incident in which he imitated a southern American accent while talking to his longstanding friend, the African-American classical singer Reginald Mobley.

It is understood a white woman who overheard the joke reported it to officials at the University of Oregon, which runs the festival, claiming it amounted to a racial slur. Shortly after Halls, who has worked with orchestras and opera houses across Europe and the US, was told by a university official his four year contract, which was to have run until 2020, was being terminated.

Mobley, a countertenor who regularly performs in the UK, has now spoken out to defend his friend, saying there was nothing racist about the joke and describing the university’s apparent treatment of Halls as deeply unjust.

“He has been victimised and I’m very upset about it,” he told The Sunday Telegraph. ”It was an innocent joke that has been entirely taken out of context.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/09/09/british-conductor-sacked-us-music-festival-joke-labelled-racist/

by 'Wolfie Sun Sep 10, 2017 3:56 pm

Down here in Oz, we have "unfair dismissal" legislation that could be applied for unjustified termination of employment...

When you have somebody employed on a contract, who is subsequently fired either without cause, or on dubious grounds -- as in this case -- they could have good chance of either having their contract restored, or else paid out. Without the expense of a civil action for "breach of contract".

One would imagine that the university has put themselves in a weak position, if they simply cancelled his contract without any proper investigation or hearing ? Basketball

by Guest Sun Sep 10, 2017 3:57 pm

WhoseYourWolfie wrote:

Down here in Oz, we have "unfair dismissal" legislation that could be appliedmfor unjustified termination of employment...

When you have somebody employed on a contract, who is subsequently fired either without cause, or on dubious grounds -- as in this case -- they could have good chance of either having their contract restored, or else paid out. Without the expense of a civil action for "breach of contract".

One would imagine that the university has put themselves in a weak position, if they simply cancelled his contract without any investigation or hearing ?

Completely agree Wolf.
Its seems they badly over reacted.
Hope he gets his job back.

by Original Quill Sun Sep 10, 2017 4:45 pm

Strange that you should bring this up, didge. Since you are the one who turns faux missteps into sins and turns them to your advantage all the time.

Don't you run across chance words and phrases all the time, and falsely accuse others of the wrong intentions?

by Guest Sun Sep 10, 2017 4:48 pm

Original Quill wrote:Strange that you should bring this up, didge. Since you are the one who turns faux missteps into sins and turns them to your advantage all the time.

Don't you run across chance words and phrases all the time, and falsely accuse others of the wrong intentions?

lol, I suggest you pick your dummy up off the floor and stick to the topic

You falsely accuse me all the time of being a Neo Nazi

Of course that apparently is not as bad as calling someone stupid.

It shows how desperate you are in debates

by Original Quill Sun Sep 10, 2017 4:53 pm

Thorin wrote:
Original Quill wrote:Strange that you should bring this up, didge. Since you are the one who turns faux missteps into sins and turns them to your advantage all the time.

Don't you run across chance words and phrases all the time, and falsely accuse others of the wrong intentions?

lol, I suggest you pick your dummy up off the floor and stick to the topic

You falsely accuse me all the time of being a Neo Nazi

Of course that apparently is not as bad as calling someone stupid.

It shows how desperate you are in debates

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British conductor sacked by US music festival after 'innocent' joke with his African-American friend was labelled racist

British conductor sacked by US music festival after 'innocent' joke with his African-American friend was labelled racist

Re: British conductor sacked by US music festival after 'innocent' joke with his African-American friend was labelled racist

Re: British conductor sacked by US music festival after 'innocent' joke with his African-American friend was labelled racist

Re: British conductor sacked by US music festival after 'innocent' joke with his African-American friend was labelled racist

Re: British conductor sacked by US music festival after 'innocent' joke with his African-American friend was labelled racist

Re: British conductor sacked by US music festival after 'innocent' joke with his African-American friend was labelled racist

Re: British conductor sacked by US music festival after 'innocent' joke with his African-American friend was labelled racist