A Broadway Divas’ Drama Unfolds

Legendary Broadway star Patti LuPone found herself in hot water over the weekend after she made remarks deemed offensive towards fellow actresses Kecia Lewis and Audra McDonald. This backlash ignited a firestorm within the theater community, leading LuPone to issue a heartfelt apology.

LuPone’s Regretful Response

On Saturday, LuPone took to social media, expressing her "deeply sorry" feelings for her earlier comments, which she described as "demeaning and disrespectful." In her statement, she acknowledged that her remarks, particularly toward Lewis, were inappropriate and revealed her devastation over causing offense.

"I regret my flippant and emotional responses during this interview, which were inappropriate. I hope to speak to Audra and Kecia personally to offer my sincere apologies," she shared, clearly shaken by the fallout.

The Open Letter and Community Outrage

LuPone’s apology followed the circulation of an open letter signed by over 600 members of the Broadway community. This letter, directed at the American Theatre Wing and the Broadway League, demanded that LuPone be disinvited from the upcoming Tony Awards, citing her comments as "a blatant act of racialized disrespect" toward Lewis and McDonald, both of whom are Black.

In her response, LuPone admitted her agreement with the letter's sentiment, affirming that theater should be about empowerment and inclusivity.

What Sparked the Controversy?

This tumult stemmed from a recent interview with The New Yorker, intended to promote her appearance in "And Just Like That..."—the revival of the famed series, "Sex and the City." During the interview, LuPone was asked about a past incident related to the musical "Hell’s Kitchen," which features a predominantly Black cast.

She criticized the show's sound bleeding into her theater space, and in a viral TikTok clip, referred to the production as "too loud," leading to accusations of racial insensitivity. Lewis, who won a Tony for her role in the show, labeled LuPone’s comments as "racially microaggressive" and "rooted in privilege."

LuPone’s Remarks Spark Further Conflict

In the interview, LuPone referred to Lewis derogatorily and questioned her credentials as a Broadway veteran. Additionally, she suggested that McDonald, who supported Lewis, was not genuinely her friend, indicating a longstanding rift.

McDonald later addressed this rift during a promotional segment for her own work, indicating that she hadn’t seen LuPone in 11 years, mainly due to the busyness of their careers. She stated, "I don’t know what rift she’s talking about, but you’d have to ask her."

A Call for Accountability

As the drama unfolds, LuPone’s commitment to acknowledge her mistake and learn from this incident aligns with a broader call within the theater community for accountability, respect, and unity. Only time will tell if this controversy catalyzes significant change in the industry.