Executive Director Claims Firing Over Cornrows at Baltimore Rock Opera Society

A former executive director of the Baltimore Rock Opera Society (BROS) alleges she was fired from her position after concerns were raised about her wearing cornrows, a hairstyle typically associated with Black culture, at the Burning Man festival.

Kelly Carnes, who was hired as executive director on September 14, claims her dismissal came shortly after a video featuring her cornrows was posted online by BROS. She stated that the opera group's online community began questioning the hairstyle, viewing it as cultural appropriation. Carnes was terminated on September 19, just hours after being told by the BROS board not to attend a town hall meeting addressing these concerns.

Carnes told the Baltimore Banner that her termination letter cited that she was "not a good fit" for the organization, but she maintains the underlying reason for her dismissal was the reaction to her hair.

"People can have different opinions about my hairstyle," Carnes told the Banner. "But someone's personal opinion about my hairstyle is one thing. Making an employment decision based on my physical appearance is another."

Carnes had attended the Burning Man festival in Nevada and adopted the braided hairstyle, described as a "protective style," for her trip. She asserted that no one raised concerns about her hair when she attended a BROS karaoke fundraiser on September 10, her first in-person event with many staff and community members.

However, the situation reportedly changed after BROS posted a video of Carnes on September 14. According to Carnes, this prompted community members to express "concerns" about her cornrows, leading BROS to eventually remove the video.

Carnes, who has 21 years of experience in communications and public relations, including previous roles at the Smithsonian's Hirshhorn Museum and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, is considering legal action. She is investigating whether her firing falls under Maryland's CROWN Act, which addresses anti-discrimination laws related to traits associated with race, including protective hairstyles.

The hiring process for Carnes took approximately three months and involved three interview rounds and a budgeting exercise. In a press release announcing her hiring, BROS board chair Naomi Davidoff praised Carnes, stating she had the "right combination of moxie and grit" and was taking the helm at an "important moment in its evolution."

Carnes herself had expressed enthusiasm for the role, calling BROS "wonderfully weird in the best possible way" and stating her aim was "not to tame that, but unleash it" by building sustainable systems and strengthening the organization's infrastructure.

BROS has not directly addressed Carnes' claims. Marketing and communications director Cat Litten stated that the group's "focus is internal at the moment and we are not engaging further with the press at this time."