Overview
- Actor Nike Imoru filed a racial-discrimination lawsuit in Middlesex Superior Court over a 2025 Odyssey production at Harvard’s American Repertory Theater.
- Her complaint says the theater bypassed Actors’ Equity requirements for hairstyle changes, including a licensed technician, written consent, a consultation, and advance notice.
- Imoru alleges a backstage dresser, not a licensed stylist, installed cornrows with the wrong extensions, which tightened, damaged her scalp, and tore out hair during removal.
- Medical records cited in the filing note urgent-care diagnosis of traumatic hair loss; Imoru reports nonscarring alopecia, roughly 90% hair loss, and lasting psychological harm.
- Court documents say ART covered four months of laser treatment through reimbursements; the suit also cites more robust options offered to a white actor as evidence of disparate treatment, and ART has not responded to requests for comment.