Placido Domingo Steps Down from Met Opera's 'Macbeth' Amid Sexual Misconduct Allegations

Placido Domingo has announced that he has withdrawn from the Metropolitan Opera’s production of Macbeth amid the controversy surrounding sexual misconduct allegations made against him.

The 78-year-old opera singer, one of the most renowned performers in the field, was accused of sexual misconduct by 20 women in a bombshell report released in August. He allegedly pressured women into sexual relationships and punished the women who turned him down.

Placido says that the allegations were made without “due process.”

Performances of Macbeth were scheduled to begin on Wednesday (September 25), but he will no longer be involved.

“While I strongly dispute recent allegations made about me, and I am concerned about a climate in which people are condemned without due process, upon reflection, I believe that my appearance in this production of Macbeth would distract from the hard work of my colleagues both on stage and behind the scenes,” Domingo said in a statement. “As a result, I have asked to withdraw and I thank the leadership of the Met for graciously granting my request.”

He added, “I am happy that, at the age of 78, I was able to sing the wonderful title role in the dress rehearsal of Macbeth, which I consider my last performance on the Met stage.”

“The Met and Mr. Domingo are in agreement that he needed to step down,” the Met added.