ALTON - Eric Sykes, the executive director of Alton Little Theater, recently took to social media to address “a narrative circulating online that Alton Little Theater is somehow an unsafe space.”

Over the past year, a former performer has been vocal about sexual misconduct they said they experienced with a former leader in the theater. Additionally, Sykes’s Twitter account has attracted attention because of comments that some say were offensive to the LGBTQ+ community.

In a video posted to the Alton Little Theater Facebook page on April 29, 2026, Sykes noted that “allegations involving a former employee” circulated on social media in January 2025.

“That’s a serious claim, and it deserves a serious and truthful response,” he said. “Those allegations that were revealed in January 2025 were not ignored. They were taken seriously and handled through the appropriate channels.”

He clarified that no charges were pursued by the Madison County State Attorney’s Office and there is no open case, which he said is “the reality of the situation.”

Article continues after sponsor message

Sykes also addressed “old comments that [he] made through social media” that, he said, have fueled conversations about whether he supports everyone in the community.

“I want to be very clear. I support people of all communities. That’s how I lead, and that’s how this theater operates,” he said. “Claiming that I create an unsafe environment for others is a serious accusation and simply not true. I believe...

Read Full Story: https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi0gFBVV95cUxQb2tpZ3o4djI5cGsxY3drQUtj...