A soprano has been dumped by Opera Australia after she was accused of labelling homosexuals "sewage" and "fecal masses" on her Facebook page.
The company confirmed on Monday that Georgian singer Tamar Iveri, set to star in its production of Verdi's Otello, had been released immediately from her contract.
Iveri was to have played the lead part of Desdemona in the opera, scheduled to open on July 5.
A post on Iveri's Facebook page against a gay pride march in her Georgian home city had brought widespread condemnation, with patrons sharing their outrage on social media and Opera Australia sponsor Qantas expressing its concern.
"I was quite proud of the fact how Georgian society spat at the parade ... Please, stop vigorous attempts to bring West's 'fecal masses' in the mentality of the people by means of propaganda," read Iveri's comments, which were taken down shortly after they were posted.
In a statement on its Facebook page, Opera Australia said the opinions posted were "unconscionable", and it acknowledged Iveri had apologised at the weekend.
The singer has since blamed her zealous Christian husband for posting the comments in her name, saying he had found an article she had been writing about recent gay pride protests, changed it and posted it under her name.
Opera Australia's decision was supported on its Facebook page with observers unanimously approving of Iveri's sacking.
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