Broadway veteran apologises after being lashed through 700 fellow artists

Veteran level actress Patti LuPone has apologised after a backlash over remarks she made about fellow Broadway stars Kecia Lewis and Audra McDonald in an interview.

The feud despatched shockwaves throughout the theatre {industry}, with an open letter signed through round 700 fellow Broadway artists, reprimanding her.

It additionally calling on her to be banned from the impending {industry} Oscars, the Tony Awards.

“I am deeply sorry for the words I used during The New Yorker interview, particularly about Kecia Lewis, which were demeaning and disrespectful,” she mentioned in a remark posted on-line.

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The drama began final 12 months when LuPone, 76, who used to be starring in play The Roommate on Broadway, made a proper noise grievance towards Broadway musical, Hell’s Kitchen, along with her theatre shared a wall.

After LuPone mentioned the musical used to be “too loud”, the sound design of Hell’s Kitchen – which is through Alicia Keyes and includes a predominantly African-American solid – used to be changed.

LuPone used to be additionally noticed refusing to signal a fan’s Hell’s Kitchen playbill, announcing it used to be “too loud”.

Hell’s Kitchen megastar Kecia Lewis posted a video on Instagram in November, announcing calling a majority black solid loud used to be a “microaggression” and soliciting for an apology.

A microaggression is outlined within the Merriam-Webster dictionary as “a comment or action that subtly and often unconsciously or unintentionally expresses a prejudiced attitude toward a member of a marginalised group”.

LuPone answered to the feedback in a May 26, 2025 profile piece in The New Yorker

She took factor with Lewis calling herself a “veteran” in her November video, telling the hole, “Let’s find out how many Broadway shows Kecia Lewis has done, because she doesn’t know what the f–k she’s talking about…” she mentioned.

“She’s done seven. I’ve done 31. Don’t call yourself a vet, b—h,” she mentioned.

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Lewis, 59, has in truth executed 10 presentations in general whilst LuPone has executed 28.

LuPone may be 20 years older than Lewis and began her level occupation 40 years in the past.

LuPone added concerning the noise factor: ”This is not unusual on Broadway. This happens all the time when walls are shared.”

The writer of the New Yorker tale, Michael Schulman additionally introduced up fellow level actress Audra McDonald, who had supported Lewis’ video.

In reaction LuPone mentioned: ”And I thought, you should know better. That’s typical of Audra. She’s not a friend,” including that the 2 had a rift.

McDonald, who’s these days additionally starring on Broadway in Gypsy, answered to LuPone’s feedback in a TV interview.

The 54-year previous instructed CBS, “If there is a rift between us, I don’t know what it is. That’s something you would have to ask Patti about.

“I have never noticed her in about 11 years simply because we now have been busy, simply with lifestyles and stuff. So I have no idea what rift she’s speaking about, however you would have to invite her.”

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Actors then started to respond to LuPone’s comments including film and TV star Viola Davis and Tony-winning actress Donna Murphy,.

An open letter signed by Broadway heavyweights including Tony winners Tony winners James Monroe Iglehart, Wendell Pierce, Hell’s Kitchen cast member Maleah Joi Moon, and even Courtney Love was released on May 30.

It labels LuPone’s comments about Lewis and McDonald as “degrading and misogynistic” and calls it “a blatant act of racialised disrespect.”

“It constitutes bullying. It constitutes harassment. It is emblematic of the microaggressions and abuse that folks on this {industry} have persevered for a long way too lengthy, too regularly with out end result,” it says.

It claims LuPone’s feedback are a part of an industry-wide trend of “continual failure to carry other people answerable for violent, disrespectful, or destructive behaviour – particularly when they’re tough or well known.”

The letter called on the Broadway League, the American Theatre Wing, and “the higher theatre neighborhood” to disinvite LuPone and others “who use their platform to publicly demean, harass, or disparage fellow artists” from events, such as the upcoming Tony Awards.

It also demand for those involved to attend “complete anti-bias or restorative justice techniques” and for the League and the Wing to create “transparent, clear insurance policies for addressing destructive behaviour.”

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LuPone has now apologised.

In a remark posted on Instagram on May 31 (June 1 Australian time), she mentioned she “wholeheartedly agree[s] with the whole thing that used to be written within the open letter.”

“I am deeply sorry for the words I used during The New Yorker interview, particularly about Kecia Lewis, which were demeaning and disrespectful,” she mentioned.

“I be apologetic about my flippant and emotional responses all over this interview, that have been beside the point, and I’m devastated that my behaviour has angry others and has run counter to what we dangle expensive on this neighborhood.

“I hope to have the chance to speak to Audra and Kecia personally to offer my sincere apologies.

“I made a mistake, I take complete accountability for it, and I’m dedicated to creating this proper”.

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