Patti lupone condemned by over 500 broadway artists for ‘bullying’ audra mcdonald, kecia lewis

Break a leg. More than 500 Broadway artists signed an open letter slamming Patti LuPone over her recent comments against Audra McDonald and Kecia Lewis. The letter, which was written on

behalf of the Broadway Theater Community on Friday, May 30, chastised LuPone, 76, for the flippant remarks she made about her fellow stage icons in an interview with The New Yorker published

on Monday. “Recently, Patti LuPone made deeply inappropriate and unacceptable public comments about two of Broadway’s most respected and beloved artists,” the letter, which was addressed to

the American Theatre Wing and the Broadway League, read. “This language is not only degrading and misogynistic – it is a blatant act of racialized disrespect,” the letter continued. “It

constitutes bullying. It constitutes harassment. It is emblematic of the microaggressions and abuse that people in this industry have endured for far too long, too often without

consequence.” EXPLORE MORE Some high-profile Broadway stars who signed the open letter include Tony winners Maleah Joi Moon (“Hell’s Kitchen”), James Monroe Iglehart (“Aladdin”) and Wendell

Pierce (“Radio Golf”). The more than 500 signatories described LuPone’s remarks as a “public affront to the values of collaboration, equity, and mutual respect that our theater community

claims to uphold.” “Let us be clear: this is about more than one person,” the letter continued. “It is about a culture. A pattern. A persistent failure to hold people accountable for

violent, disrespectful, or harmful behavior – especially when they are powerful or well-known.” “This is not about differing opinions,” the letter went on. “It is about public actions that

demean, intimidate, or perpetuate violence against fellow artists. It is about the normalization of harm in an industry that too often protects prestige over people.” Playbill was the first

to share the document on Friday, and the letter added that the Broadway community can’t “continue to welcome back those who harm others simply because of their fame or perceived value.” It

also demanded an end to the kind of behavior that LuPone exhibited earlier this week. “We will no longer tolerate violence – verbal, emotional, or physical – against artists within our own

community,” the letter said. “No more free passes. If our industry is truly committed to equity, justice, and respect, then those values must be applied consistently, even when it’s

uncomfortable.” “Especially when it’s uncomfortable,” the missive continued. “No artist, producer, director, or leader—regardless of legacy or celebrity—should be allowed to weaponize their

platform to belittle, threaten, or devalue others without consequence. Period.” The Post has reached out to LuPone’s reps for comment. The “Beau Is Afraid” actress first made headlines when

she bashed McDonald and Lewis during her scathing sit-down with The New Yorker. While the “Agatha All Along” actress said that McDonald, 54, was “not a friend,” she later called Lewis, 59, a

“bitch” who “doesn’t know what the f–k she’s talking about.” “Oh, my God,” LuPone said of the “Hell’s Kitchen” actress. “Here’s the problem. She calls herself a veteran? Let’s find out how

many Broadway shows Kecia Lewis has done, because she doesn’t know what the f–k she’s talking about.” “She’s done seven,” LuPone added. “I’ve done thirty-one. Don’t call yourself a vet,

bitch.” LuPone also targeted Glenn Close, 78, during the no holds barred interview, saying she wanted to call her a “bitch” after Close replaced her in the Broadway debut of “Sunset

Boulevard.” McDonald later addressed LuPone’s vicious remarks in an interview with Gayle King on “CBS Mornings” Thursday. The “Gilded Age” star said she was “surprised” by her Broadway

colleague’s comments and didn’t “know what she’s talking about.” “I mean, if there’s a rift between us, I don’t know what it is,” McDonald said. “That’s something you’d have to ask Patti

about.” “I haven’t seen her in about 11 years because I’ve been busy with life and stuff,” she added. “So, I don’t know what rift she’s talking about. You’d have to ask her.”