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Black Montreal theatre performer files lawsuit after puppet called racist
Canadian Press ^ | 01/11/2024 | Jacob Serebrin

Posted on 01/15/2024 4:21:02 PM PST by simpson96

A Black Montreal theatre performer has filed a lawsuit against an anti-racism activist who he says falsely associated him with racism against Black people.

Franck Sylvestre agues in the suit filed at the Montreal courthouse on Wednesday that Alain Babineau made unreasonable claims about a puppet in a theatre piece Sylvestre created for children, damaging his career.

Babineau “unreasonably associated the plaintiff and his puppet with racism, with the submission of Black people to white people and even white supremacism and the dehumanization of Black people,” the lawsuit reads. The criticism was an attack on Sylvestre’s reputation, it adds, and an attempt “to expose him to the hatred and contempt of the public in general and the Black community in particular.”

At a news conference last February, Babineau, the racial profiling and public safety director at civil rights group The Red Coalition, called for performances of the theatre piece to be cancelled, arguing that the puppet was an example of anti-Black racism and reminiscent of blackface minstrel shows — performances intended to mock Black people.

Sylvestre’s lawyer, Guillaume Rousseau said the puppet is based on his client’s own appearance and that there’s nothing racist about the show.(snip)

“It’s an issue of freedom of artistic expression,” Rousseau said in an interview Wednesday. “If every representation of a Black person that doesn’t please Mr. Babineau and others becomes blackface, becomes the subject of calls for censorship, that limits my client’s freedom of artistic expression and, potentially, that of other artists.”(snip)

The lawsuit, which seeks $26,600 in damages, also alleges that Sylvestre’s career as a children’s performer has been threatened because he is now unfairly seen as “controversial” and presenters won’t book him.

In a statement Wednesday, The Red Coalition maintained that the puppet’s appearance is racist and could offend people.

(Excerpt) Read more at globalnews.ca ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat
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...and liberal heads exploded all over Canada.

If he were white, they'd probably institute the death penalty, just for him.

1 posted on 01/15/2024 4:21:02 PM PST by simpson96
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To: simpson96

i can see the likeness...


2 posted on 01/15/2024 4:25:36 PM PST by Chode (there is no fall back position, there's no rally point, there is no LZ... we're on our own. #FJB)
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To: simpson96

lol - I can see why the leftist is all uppity. He’s been trained that black people represented a certain way = denigrating when sometimes a representation is just that.

I’m curious to see what his other puppets look like and how he exaggerates other features.


3 posted on 01/15/2024 4:25:52 PM PST by Skywise
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To: simpson96

I was ready to take up arms against the Wokesters. But then the picture appeared. Yes, it’s a racist stereotype. And while the theater performer clearly has Negro blood, the puppet doesn’t have any of his features. I was thinking we’d see something closer to Rastus. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:%22Uncle_Rastus%22.jpg


4 posted on 01/15/2024 4:28:47 PM PST by PAR35
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To: simpson96

When I scrolled down and saw the picture, I couldn’t stop laughing.


5 posted on 01/15/2024 4:28:54 PM PST by Rightwing Conspiratr1
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To: PAR35

Who are you to say it’s a racist stereotype?


6 posted on 01/15/2024 4:32:13 PM PST by Skywise
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To: simpson96

That is awful.


7 posted on 01/15/2024 4:32:28 PM PST by Beowulf9
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To: simpson96

Which one is the puppet?


8 posted on 01/15/2024 4:33:33 PM PST by noiseman (The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.)
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To: simpson96

For once, they kinda have a point.


9 posted on 01/15/2024 4:38:21 PM PST by stinkerpot65 (Global warming is a Marxist lie. )
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To: Skywise

I’m white, so by woke definition a racist. So I know racism when I see it. Due in question is brown, so by woke definition not a racist. So of course he wouldn’t know racism if he saw it.


10 posted on 01/15/2024 4:40:42 PM PST by PAR35
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To: simpson96

Kind of looks like a female congresscritter or two.


11 posted on 01/15/2024 4:51:20 PM PST by doorgunner69 (When tyranny becomes law, rebellion becomes duty)
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To: Rightwing Conspiratr1

Same.


12 posted on 01/15/2024 4:54:36 PM PST by EEGator
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To: simpson96

I have to admit, reading the article I was saying “Damn liberals once again bringing up fake racism”..... Then I saw that photo LOL LOL LOL!


13 posted on 01/15/2024 4:57:04 PM PST by GrandJediMasterYoda (As long as Hillary Clinton remains free, the USA will never have equal justice under the law)
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To: simpson96

Is this puppet racist? I think so.
Should the puppeteer be allowed to use it? Sure.

Should people be allowed to criticize this puppet? Sure.
Should the lawyers stay out of it? Sure.

(I think that about covers everything.)


14 posted on 01/15/2024 4:58:36 PM PST by Leaning Right (The steal is real.)
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To: simpson96

I want to know what Walter has to say..


15 posted on 01/15/2024 4:59:41 PM PST by Track9 (Matches for sale.. get your matches!)
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To: simpson96

OMG..That sure is ugly! Lol!
It reminds me of the Pieter Schwartz comuc figures that used to be commonly seen in Netherland countries during Christmastime. A Dutch person in blackface trying to scare children into being good for Santa.
I don’t know if that tradition has continued or not.


16 posted on 01/15/2024 5:02:55 PM PST by lee martell
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To: simpson96
Nearly as racist as the Bubba J puppet by Jeff Dunham.

Of course, Jeff is not Canadian.

17 posted on 01/15/2024 5:20:13 PM PST by Harmless Teddy Bear ( In a quaint alleyway, they graciously signaled for a vehicle on the main road to lead the way. )
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To: Leaning Right

A black puppeteer can use it, a white one, no.


18 posted on 01/15/2024 5:28:50 PM PST by yldstrk
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To: noiseman

They are both the puppet.


19 posted on 01/15/2024 5:44:31 PM PST by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; not averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: simpson96

Cripes, he’s captured Big Mike’s appearance perfectly.


20 posted on 01/15/2024 6:20:23 PM PST by WKUHilltopper
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