Overview
- The group hired Kelly Carnes in early September and removed her roughly two weeks later after a short social-media video showed her wearing cornrows to a BROS event in late September.
- Carnes says the braids were a protective style she had at Burning Man, she disputes that the termination letter blamed her hair, and she is exploring legal options under Maryland’s CROWN Act.
- BROS removed the contested video, held a town‑hall and told volunteers it is focused on internal work; the organization plans a “State of the BROS” meeting on Oct. 9 and a production opening Oct. 30.
- The firing comes as four of six board members have announced they will leave at the end of 2026, creating an urgent need to fill chair, treasurer and secretary roles to preserve nonprofit status.
- The episode has driven heated debate on social media and in local commentary and could prompt legal scrutiny of how the CROWN Act applies to small, volunteer-heavy nonprofits with limited paid staff.