An actress has filed a lawsuit against the American Repertory Theater Company, part of Harvard University, claiming that improper hair styling for a stage production caused severe and permanent hair loss due to racial discrimination. Nike Imoru, a Black actress, alleges that her experience behind the scenes during a 2025 adaptation of “The Odyssey” left her physically and emotionally damaged, and has effectively brought her theater career to an end.
Imoru played several roles in Kate Hamill’s production of the ancient epic and was required to quickly switch characters. To help with these changes, her hair was styled in cornrows by a backstage worker, whom she says was not a professional hairdresser. According to Imoru, the method used to braid and attach extension hair created significant tension, which led to her hair twisting tightly and caused serious damage in just a few days.
She states that the hairstyle resulted in nonscarring alopecia and about 90% hair loss, with some hair follicles becoming completely empty. Imoru describes the following year as deeply traumatic, saying her hair has barely regrown after this period. She recalls the moment she realized what was happening, saying she noticed her hair falling out and was unsure how to respond.
Beyond the physical effects, Imoru says she suffered anxiety, trauma, and mental health struggles. She believes she was not given the same careful treatment as other actors, and that the theater company made stereotypical assumptions about the needs of her textured hair. The lawsuit claims that these actions went against the theater’s own policies and its commitments to prevent harm based on race.
The American Repertory Theater had previously issued a public apology for incidents of racial discrimination five years ago. When contacted recently, the theater did not respond with a comment regarding Imoru’s lawsuit. The case highlights ongoing concerns about racial equity and hair care in the entertainment industry.
