Patti LuPone Issues Career-First Apology for ‘Demeaning and Disrespectful’ Words That Inspired Broadway Backlash

Patti LuPone has apologized for her incendiary remarks astir chap Broadway stars Audra McDonald and Kecia Lewis.

One time aft much than 500 members of nan Broadway organization signed an unfastened letter reprimanding LuPone, 76, for her recent comments directed astatine McDonald, 54, and Hell's Kitchen star Lewis, 59, successful a May 26 New Yorker profile, LuPone issued her apology connected Instagram connected May 31.

“For arsenic agelong arsenic I person worked successful nan theatre, I person spoken my mind and ne'er apologized. That is changing today,” LuPone began her statement. “I americium profoundly sorry for nan words I utilized during The New Yorker interview, peculiarly astir Kecia Lewis, which were demeaning and disrespectful.”

“I regret my flippant and affectional responses during this interview, which were inappropriate, and I americium devastated that my behaviour has offended others and has tally antagonistic to what we clasp beloved successful this community,” she continued. “I dream to person nan chance to speak to Audra and Kecia personally to connection my sincere apologies.”

“I wholeheartedly work together pinch everything that was written successful nan open letter shared yesterday. From mediate schoolhouse play clubs to master stages, theatre has ever been astir lifting each different up and welcoming those who consciousness they don't beryllium anyplace else,” she concluded. “I made a mistake, I return afloat work for it, and I americium committed to making this right. Our full theatre organization deserves better.”

The unfastened letter, which was addressed to nan American Theatre Wing, The Broadway League and "the greater theatre community" connected May 30, described LuPone's comments arsenic "a blatant enactment of racialized disrespect" that "constitutes bullying" and harassment and called connected nan groups to disinvite LuPone from nan Tony Awards connected June 8 and return connected further efforts to "[establish] a broader modular of accountability moving forward."

McDonald herself addressed LuPone's comments astir their relationship successful an question and reply pinch Gayle King connected CBS Mornings set to aerial Tuesday, June 3. The program shared a clip on Instagram on May 29, successful which McDonald said, “If there's a rift betwixt us, I don't cognize what it is,” aft King asked her whether she was "surprised" by LuPone's comments.

"That's thing you'd person to inquire Patti about. You know, I haven't seen her successful astir 11 years conscionable because we've been engaged conscionable pinch life. So I don't cognize what rift she's talking about, but you'd person to inquire her," McDonald added successful that clip.

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LuPone's mention of an evident feud betwixt her and McDonald comes arsenic McDonald is nominated astatine nan upcoming Tonys for her starring domiciled successful a revival of Gypsy. When LuPone was asked by The New Yorker what she thought of McDonald’s Gypsy performance, nan performer — who won a Tony for playing nan aforesaid domiciled successful nan 2008 accumulation — reportedly stared successful soundlessness for 15 seconds earlier turning to nan model and sighing, "What a beautiful day."

McDonald received her record-making 11th Tony nomination for Gypsy, becoming nan astir nominated performer of each time. The character already holds nan grounds for wins, pinch six Tonys. LuPone has three.

The taxable of their relationship came up successful the New Yorker piece erstwhile LuPone was asked astir a nationalist conflict she held pinch Lewis successful autumn 2024; nan Hell's Kitchen star had posted a video to Instagram criticizing LuPone for calling nan Alicia Keys philharmonic "too loud" — remarks that Lewis dubbed "bullying," "offensive," "racially microaggressive," "rude" and "rooted successful privilege." At nan time, LuPone was starring other Mia Farrow successful nan play The Roommate and had been complaining astir hearing Hell's Kitchen's sound cues done nan wall nan 2 buildings shared.

In nan New Yorker piece, Lupone said, "That's emblematic of Audra," erstwhile she was told that McDonald had responded to Lewis' video pinch supportive emojis.