(Credit: Opéra National de Paris)

Opéra National de Paris is contemplating the formal ban of blackface in its performances after over 400 employees signed a manifesto against racial inequality.

The open letter also called for a ban of the N-word in all the performances at the opera house. The staff has also called for an end to silence that surrounds the racial issues at the Opéra National de Paris. The new Director of the Opera Alexander Neef has already asked experts to investigate race-related issues within the ballet section of the company. The report by the experts will be unveiled in December 2020.

“We want to create a culture internally so that people come forward to talk about serious issues, so they know they will be heard and taken seriously,” said Neef.

Racial inequality and discrimination at the company have come into the spotlight since strong statements by previous director Benjamin Millepied openly condemned “insidious racism” at the ballet. He pledged to get rid of the racial inequality issues that troubled the company.

Blackface has already been abandoned by most major ballet companies.