Patti LuPone Issues Public Apology to Kecia Lewis and Audra McDonald Amid Broadway Backlash
Broadway legend Patti LuPone has issued a heartfelt public apology to fellow theater icons Kecia Lewis and Audra McDonald, following controversial comments made during an interview with The New Yorker. The remarks sparked a wave of backlash across the theater community, culminating in a powerful open letter signed by over 500 industry professionals.
A Shift in Tone: LuPone Breaks Silence
In a post shared on Instagram, LuPone addressed the uproar:
“For as long as I have worked in the theatre, I have spoken my mind and never apologized. That is changing today.”
She continued by expressing deep regret for her “demeaning and disrespectful” comments, particularly those directed at Kecia Lewis, and acknowledged that her emotional responses during the interview were inappropriate and harmful.
LuPone added that she hopes to personally apologize to both Lewis and McDonald, emphasizing that her actions went against the values the theater community holds dear.
Backlash from the Broadway Community
The controversy began when LuPone, in a New Yorker profile, referred to Lewis using a derogatory term and dismissed McDonald’s response to the situation. The comments were linked to a dispute from the fall of the previous year, when LuPone, then starring in The Roommate, complained about sound bleed from Hell’s Kitchen, the Alicia Keys musical running next door at the Shubert Theatre.
Lewis, who stars in Hell’s Kitchen, described LuPone’s complaints on Instagram as “bullying” and “racially microaggressive”. In response to the New Yorker’s inquiry, LuPone made remarks belittling Lewis’ career and referred to McDonald as “not a friend.”
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Theater for Change Demands Accountability
In the wake of the article, a coalition named Theater For Change posted an open letter demanding accountability, justice, and respect across the theater industry. The letter called LuPone’s remarks “degrading,” “misogynistic,” and a “blatant act of racialized disrespect.”
Notably, the letter was signed by prominent figures including Tony Award winners Wendell Pierce, Maleah Joi Moon, and James Monroe Iglehart.
Full Apology: A Pledge to Do Better
In her full statement, LuPone wrote:
“I made a mistake, I take full responsibility for it, and I am committed to making this right. Our entire theatre community deserves better.”
She expressed solidarity with the sentiments shared in the open letter and reaffirmed her belief in theater as a space of inclusion, respect, and upliftment, from school stages to Broadway.
