Lupone 'breaks her silence' on Audra, Kecia, and more !

[Ali Gator]

On Kecia's Insta post last fall, where she accused 'fellow  theater veteran'  Lupone of “bullying,” “racially microaggressive,” and “rooted in privilege,” because she had labelled “a Black show loud.”

“Oh, my God,” LuPone said, balking, when I brought up the incident. “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 fuck she’s talking about.” She Googled. “She’s done seven. I’ve done thirty-one. Don’t call yourself a vet, bitch.” (The correct numbers are actually ten and twenty-eight, but who’s counting?) She explained, of the noise problem, “This is not unusual on Broadway. This happens all the time when walls are shared.”

On fellow veteran Audra MacDonald, who is currently starring in the first revival of 'Gypsy' since Lupone did her revival more than 15 years ago. Audra backed up for Kecia's post. 

I mentioned that Audra McDonald—the Tony-decorated Broadway star—had given the video supportive emojis. “Exactly,” LuPone said. “And I thought, You should know better. That’s typical of Audra. She’s not a friend”—hard “D.” The two singers had some long-ago rift, LuPone said, but she didn’t want to elaborate. When I asked what she had thought of McDonald’s current production of “Gypsy,” she stared at me, in silence, for fifteen seconds. Then she turned to the window and sighed, “What a beautiful day.”

 

https://archive.is/e7PTR

 

[d.anders]

The recent interview on YouTube between Patti LuPone and George Clooney was quite awkward. George tried to trip Patti up on her past Madonna comments, and Patti did not take the bate. It seems Patti doesn't want Madonna fans hating on her once again. The first go-round caused a social media shit-storm.

I thought the interview was insufferable.

 

[+ ApexNomad]

Over 500 Broadway Artists Release Open Letter Reprimanding Patti LuPone

PLAYBILL.COM

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The letter also called the American Theatre Wing and Broadway League to disinvite LuPone from the Tony Awards.

 

[Manhattan]

This Open Letter is the only example of bulling that I see in this scenario. Patti may be cranky and indiscreet, but an online mob assembling to prevent her from attending the Tonys? That's terrifying. These performers are cowards. Maybe Kecia and Audra could pick up the phone and confront their colleague about her behavior. Adults can often work these things out amongst themselves. 

[d.anders]

Patti's already published her apology. However, the damage is done.

For some reason, Patti likes to stir up trouble with her big mouth, and the trouble mostly leads her to apologizing. She's always had her devoted fans, but the gossip in NYC has always stated that nobody in the business liked her. People called her selfish, with an oversized ego.

In the professional world, openly criticizing a fellow professional is mostly not accepted. Patti's been talking shit about other artists since the beginning of her career. She's never learned any lessons. No one believes her apologies anymore.

I suspect the industry has had enough of her antics, and that's the reason we see the Open Letter. It's there to send a message, and Patti got the message. I doubt they will follow through and ban her, but there is no way she will ever feel welcome, possibly forever.

[MaybeMaybeNot]

Hopefully she lives and learns. I can see her fruatration with Lewis, but her response was extreme. Sometimes a humble apology to someone who feels hurt, even if it is not warranted, helps heal. You don't have to be wrong to apologize or to respond with kindness.

I think Patti is becoming a caricature of herself. She earned applause for yelling at people with cell phones and refusimg to wear masks, and now she feels happy to do it as a lifestyle choice. She gets streaming money, so she doesn't need Broadway.  But it's one thing to attack Madonna or. ALW; that is like throwing a pebble at a whale. It is another to attack Kecia Lewis or Audra MacDonald, who are respected peers.

Edited June 2 by MaybeMaybeNot