(New York, NY) – Patti LuPone is apologizing after a recent interview with The New Yorker caused outrage in the Broadway world. The titan of theater is walking back comments she made about Kecia Lewis from the Alicia Keys musical Hell’s Kitchen, and Broadway’s most decorated performer, Audra McDonald. In the interview that spurred the controversy, LuPone was asked about her last stint on Broadway with Mia Farrow in The Roommate.
The drama shared a wall with Hell’s Kitchen, causing some of the sound to bleed through the theater. LuPone called some higher-ups and let them know about the issue which resulted in some changes to the sound design of Hell’s Kitchen, something Lewis claims negatively impacted the show. Lewis posted a video calling LuPone’s actions racist. When asked about the situation in the interview, LuPone said that Lewis was inexperienced in the industry.
McDonald commented on the video from Lewis with emojis indicating support, to which Lupone dismissed and said McDonald was never a friend of hers. In response, an open letter was published calling LuPone’s words degrading and misogynistic. The letter was co-signed by over 500 Broadway performers. Within 48 hours, LuPone posted a statement to social media apologizing for her “flippant and emotional responses” and says she plans on apologizing to Lewis and MCDonald in person. She added that the industry needs performers always willing to do better.
