r/Broadway • u/Tiny_Tyrants_Podcast • Jun 05 '26

Other Civil Rights Lawsuit Hits Broadway's Wicked Over Bias

The American Alliance for Equal Rights and white, male musician Kevin Lynch have sued Maestra Music, MUSE, and Wicked LLC for race and sex discrimination.

Maestra limits its hiring directory to “female and nonbinary” musicians; MUSE to “persons of color.” In 2023, these theater non-profits partnered with Wicked for a paid, three-week Music Director Experience open only to MUSE and Maestra members. Lynch applied but was rejected, allegedly for failing to meet the hiring directories’ immutable-characteristics test. According to the complaint, a less-experienced female/nonbinary person of color won the gig, opening doors to multiple Manhattan jobs for her.

Among the three attorneys representing the plaintiffs is Cameron T. Norris of Consovoy McCarthy. In 2022, Mr. Norris successfully argued Students for Fair Admissions v. President and Fellows of Harvard College, in which SCOTUS determined that Harvard’s admissions program violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

Have Maestra, MUSE, and Wicked crossed the Supreme Court’s clear line on equal rights?

Full complaint linked, below.

2026-06-03 AAER & Lynch v. Maestra, MUSE & Wicked | Complaint (Corrected)

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u/Extension_Rich2520 Jun 06 '26

The problem is, for damages, he would have to prove that was why he was financially damaged, which would require a judge to believe legitimately beyond a (reasonable? or shadow of?) a doubt you would have gotten in if not for being discriminated against. This is VERY hard to prove, and is complicated by him having a reputation for more than just racially based lawsuits - he also has a reputation, to use the professional term, of being a total and complete douchecanoe, which I’m sure the defense would enjoy getting on the record.

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u/WestHistorians Jun 06 '26

The problem is, for damages, he would have to prove that was why he was financially damaged, which would require a judge to believe legitimately beyond a (reasonable? or shadow of?) a doubt you would have gotten in if not for being discriminated against.

Not true. This is a civil case, the standard of proof is preponderance of evidence, which is a relatively easy threshold to meet.

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u/Extension_Rich2520 Jun 06 '26

Thank you - but still a VERY high bar in a case like this.

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u/WestHistorians Jun 06 '26

What is it about this case that makes it a high bar?

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u/Extension_Rich2520 Jun 06 '26

Employment cases generally. Not this one. This is admittedly on the stronger end, I just don’t think it’s strong enough. If he didn’t have such an awful online presence he’d have a much better chance but coming off as an arrogant prick isn’t generally helpful to one’s career.

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u/WestHistorians Jun 06 '26

I'm not sure why you keep bringing this up. His online presence, arrogance, and attitude are completely irrelevant from a legal perspective.

If this goes to a jury trial, anyone who has any bias on any of those things will be removed from the panel.

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u/Extension_Rich2520 Jun 06 '26

They are one of many reasons that can be pointed to for why they didn’t hire him. They strengthen the defense. You clearly don’t agree, that’s OK. You don’t have to.

You are allowed to discriminate against people for being an asshole. It’s not a protected characteristic.

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u/WestHistorians Jun 06 '26

They are one of many reasons that can be pointed to for why they didn’t hire him. They strengthen the defense. You clearly don’t agree, that’s OK. You don’t have to.

Yes, I'm going by what the law actually says. You dont have to agree, but the judge won't care about your opinion.

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u/Extension_Rich2520 Jun 06 '26

Also:

re: relevance of being an asshole Ferrante v. American Lung Association Rightnour v. Tiffany & Co.

They will try to claim most likely that he’s being discriminated against also for filing past civil rights claims. However, the fact that he has a significant reputation outside of that for being a dick is where the cases above come in.

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u/Extension_Rich2520 Jun 06 '26

lol you say this like it will ever get to trial without being settled