Patti LuPone Faces Backlash Over Comments About Black Actresses on Broadway
Patti LuPone Broadway backlash is making headlines again. The three-time Tony Award-winning actress stirred controversy after making harsh comments about fellow performers in her profile interview with The New Yorker.
At 76, LuPone declared she’s “done with Broadway,” but not before igniting backlash for her statements directed at Black actresses, including Kecia Lewis and Audra McDonald—both respected figures in the Broadway community.
The Controversy with Kecia Lewis
The incident dates back to November 2024, when Kecia Lewis, star of the hit musical Hell’s Kitchen, released a public letter criticizing Patti for asking the neighboring show to change its sound cues, calling the request “bullying” and “racially microaggressive.”
In her interview, LuPone responded harshly:
“She calls herself a veteran? Let’s find out how many Broadway shows Kecia Lewis has done…”
LuPone then Googled the number during the interview and said:
“She’s done seven. I’ve done thirty-one. Don’t call yourself a vet, bitch.”
The reporter corrected LuPone: the actual numbers were 10 for Lewis and 28 for LuPone.
LuPone added that sound disputes are common in theaters with shared walls, implying the issue was not personal.
Dragging Audra McDonald into the Fire
The backlash intensified when LuPone criticized Broadway legend Audra McDonald for supporting Kecia Lewis.
“That’s typical of Audra. She’s not a friend,” LuPone said.
McDonald, known for her trailblazing performances and activism, had publicly supported Lewis, further amplifying the racial and ethical concerns raised by the situation.
Shoshana Bean Responds Powerfully
Shoshana Bean, another respected Broadway actress and Tony nominee, released a passionate and powerful statement on Instagram defending both Lewis and McDonald:
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“Speaking this way about any woman is unacceptable. Let alone a Black woman… Their mere existence should be honored and revered as a miracle!!!!”
Bean called on white women in the industry to reflect and do better:
“As white women, we will never know even a fraction of what Black women have lived… This is not how it’s done. We will not teach nor perpetuate this behavior.”
She emphasized the importance of solidarity and called LuPone’s words harmful and divisive:
“We won’t allow attacks like this within our own community. This one woman is not who we are.”
Broadway’s Bigger Battle
This incident shines a light on the ongoing tension within the Broadway community as it grapples with systemic issues of race, privilege, and generational shifts in power.
Bean also noted the larger socio-political context:
“Our government is threatening the very existence of art and creators… while erasing Black history. We must not allow such internal attacks to divide us.”
Final Thoughts on the Patti LuPone Broadway Backlash
The Patti LuPone Broadway backlash is a wake-up call to many in the theatre industry. While LuPone’s legacy is undeniable, respect and equality must be at the forefront of Broadway’s future. The community is clearly saying: enough is enough.
