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North Carolina radio station bans new Met operas over “non-biblical” and LGBTQ material

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North Carolina radio station bans new Met operas over “non-biblical” and LGBTQ material


A North Carolina radio station announced it will not air six contemporary operas from New York’s Metropolitan Opera this season due to its “inappropriate” content — citing “language,” LGBTQ themes and “non-biblical sources” among its reasons.

WCPE, a listener-funded classical music station that serves the Raleigh-Durham area, is protesting the Met’s decision to showcase recently written works by composers from a wide variety of racial and social backgrounds, NPR reported.

In a letter to listeners on Aug. 31, the WCPE’s general manager Deborah S. Proctor said the station took issue with seven operas in particular — six which are scheduled for the 2023-2024 season, and one that aired earlier this year. She asked listeners for feedback.

Proctor’s letter gained widespread attention this week after circulating on social media.

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Most of WCPE’s objections relate to depictions of violence, language or the presence of LGBTQ subject material.

In one opera, Proctor said she objects to a composer’s “non-biblical” interpretation of the birth of Jesus.

“All age groups listen to our stations; we want parents to know that they can leave our station playing for their children because our broadcasts are without mature themes or foul language,” Proctor wrote in the letter.

One of the controversial Met productions on that station’s list is the critically acclaimed “Dead Man Walking” —  which is based on a true story and opens with a graphic depiction of rape and the murders of two teenagers and ends in another brutal.
AFP via Getty Images

Proctor told NPR that the letter was sent via mail to 10,000 of WCPE’s supporting members, of which about 1,000 responded. Of those who responded, 90% approved of keeping the contemporary operas off of the airways. She said she’s hoping to announce a decision after she receives 2,000 responses.

“If the Met wants to put these out as a ticketed organization with people coming to sit in their venue, for people who choose to be there, that’s one thing,” Proctor told the outlet on Thursday. “But to broadcast these things to anybody who might happen to tune in, that’s something else entirely.”

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A content warning before airing the operas would not be a sufficient warning for listeners, she argued.

The letter has outraged opera fans, but despite the backlash, Proctor insists she is not “banning” the works.

“I’m just saying that on this station that I’ve been granted jurisdiction over — and 90-plus percent of the people who have answered the survey agree with me — it shouldn’t be on this station.”

One of the controversial Met productions on that station’s list is the critically acclaimed “Dead Man Walking” —  which is based on a true story and opens with a graphic depiction of rape and the murders of two teenagers and ends in another brutal, according to NPR.

It’s reportedly the most widely performed opera written in the 20th century.

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Others on the list are: “The Hours” (2022) by composer Kevin Puts, which features a suicide;  John Adams’ opera-oratorio “El Niño” (2000) which retells the nativity; Terence Blanchard’s opera “Champion” (2023), about real-life gay boxer Emile Griffith; Anthony Davis’ and Thulani Davis’ biographical “X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X” (1986); and Mexican composer Daniel Catán’s opera “Florencia en el Amazonas” (1996).

When contacted by NPR, the Metropolitan Opera said it had not heard about WCPE’s decision.

The Post has reached out to the Metropolitan Opera for comment.





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Steve Belichick heads to North Carolina as defensive coordinator

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Steve Belichick heads to North Carolina as defensive coordinator


In the 11 days since Bill Belichick officially became the head coach at North Carolina, not much information has surfaced about his coaching staff.

One big — and expected — piece fell into place today.

Via Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports, Steve Belichick will become the defensive coordinator at UNC. He has spent 2024 as the defensive coordinator at the University of Washington.

During Bill’s courtship by the Tar Heels, reports and speculation emerged regarding an effort to create a succession plan that would make Steve the next head coach after Bill leaves. The contract negotiated and published by North Carolina makes no mention of that.

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Still, if things go well and if Belichick remains until he’s ready to retire, he’ll be in position to make a strong case for family continuity. Especially if Bill is poised to become, essentially, coach emeritus of the program with Steve in charge.





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Huskies DC Steve Belichick set to join father at North Carolina, per report

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Huskies DC Steve Belichick set to join father at North Carolina, per report


In unsurprising news, CBS Sports reported that Washington defensive coordinator Steve Belichick is set to follow his father, Bill, to North Carolina. It is the second lost to UNC for the Huskies after linebacker Khmori House pledged to the Tar Heels earlier this week.

Belichick’s defense was often the highlight for the Huskies throughout the regular season. Washington had the fifth-best pass defense in the nation, allowing just 166.8 yards per outing and 13 touchdowns on the year. It was an obvious strength for the Dawgs leading into the season and was pivotal in all six wins.

Belichick spent just one season on Montlake. He joined Jedd Fisch’s highly touted NFL experience-rich staff. He’ll continue that trend, once again joining forces with a man many consider the greatest NFL head coach of all time. Bill will lead a college program for the first time in his career.

Suddenly, North Carolina is an intriguing destination that the Huskies must be wary of after already losing House. USA Today college football reporter Matt Hayes said on X that UNC would increase its NIL package for football “from 4 million to $20 million in effort to land Belichick.”

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On the surface, there isn’t much to fear about UNC on the gridiron. However, the sweet selection of uniforms, a sudden surplus of NIL funds, Power 4 residency and the opportunity to play under the Belichick duo could be very attractive to NFL hopefuls.

Fisch addressed the potential of having to replace Belichick earlier this month.

“If (Steve) joins (Bill) then we’ll have to hire a new defensive coordinator,” Fisch said. “If he stays here then we won’t have to hire a new defensive coordinator. I think they’re separate. Bill Belichick is not on our staff. Steve Belichick is on our staff. So, Bill will determine whether or not he wants to continue. He’s the greatest coach of all time. So, if he goes and coaches somewhere, then he’ll make a decision, and then Steve will make a decision and we’ll figure it out from there.”

As for what’s next on Montlake, our Luke Kemper has you covered.

Click HERE to view his DC replacement scenarios.

Click HERE to view his contingency plan.



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Best golf courses in North Carolina for 2024-25

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Best golf courses in North Carolina for 2024-25




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