A Toronto orchestra was forced to shut down after receiving backlash for telling overweight performers to stop wearing “tight-fitting dresses.”

The announcement came after performers received an email Tuesday from the Sheraton Cadwell Orchestra management that said that only “physically fit and slim” singers would be featured in shows, according to the Global News. Sydney Dunitz, who said she has worked as a volunteer vocalist with Sheraton Cadwell Orchestras for about five years, said she received the email on Monday night and posted a screen shot of it on Facebook, where it has since been shared more than 600 times. Image copyright Sydney Dunitz /Facebook Image caption Email from Sheraton Cadwell Orchestras

"Although almost all of our vocalists are fit and slim - the way our boutique orchestra would like our front line performing artists to be… two of our featured singers were not," the email read. In an email to the group’s singers, the management said that “although almost all of our vocalists are fit & slim — the way our boutique orchestras would like our front line performing artists to be” they were asking the women to only wear loose dresses and “refrain from using tight-fitting dresses.”

They added that “per our highly selective casting requirements,” they only want “singers who are physically fit & slim (or, at the very least, those who know how to dress strategically.”

However, they said, instrumental musicians “are essentially background wallpaper” and do not need to be held to the same standard. “As per our highly selective casting requirements for vocal artists taking on a prominent leading role on stage, only singers who are physically fit and slim (or at the very least, those who know how to dress strategically/suitably in order to not bring attention to their temporary physical/dietary indulgences) would be showcased with our boutique orchestras.”

When asked for comment on the email and accusations of body shaming, Global News received a brief response Wednesday night only saying, “This is to acknowledge that your email has been with much regret. “We sincerely apologize for any embarrassment/harassment that you may experience from media representatives or other individuals/parties as a result of misconstrued/malicious allegations and extremely negative/destructive/evil intent.”

READ MORE: Only ‘fit and slim’ singers will be showcased in boutique performances: Toronto orchestra email

It’s not clear who wrote the email or who specifically resigned. Vocalist Victoria Leone said that she was unsatisfied with the orchestra’s response and called the email “highly inappropriate.”

“It was very disappointing to hear that they feel our discussion about the body-shaming situation was a ‘malicious and evil’ attempt at shutting down the organization,” she told the Global News.
Toronto's Sheraton Cadwell Orchestras closes and its management resigns following public backlash to a fat-shaming email that said only "physically fit and slim" singers would be featured in shows.