Tony Award-winning actress Patti LuPone is at the center of a growing controversy following remarks she made about fellow Broadway stars Audra McDonald and Kecia Lewis. In a recent interview with The New Yorker, LuPone referred to Lewis as a “bitch” and questioned her veteran status, while dismissing McDonald as “not a friend” .
The comments have sparked widespread condemnation within the theater community. Over 500 Broadway artists, including Tony winners Wendell Pierce, James Monroe Iglehart, and Maleah Joi Moon, signed an open letter criticizing LuPone’s language as “degrading, misogynistic,” and racially insensitive. The letter, addressed to the American Theatre Wing and the Broadway League, urges these organizations to uphold values of respect and equity by disinviting artists who demean their peers from prestigious events like the Tony Awards .
The controversy began when LuPone complained about the volume of the musical Hell’s Kitchen, in which Lewis performs. Lewis responded by calling LuPone’s actions “bullying” and “racially microaggressive” . McDonald supported Lewis’s stance on social media, leading to LuPone’s dismissive remarks about McDonald in the interview.Â
McDonald, currently starring in a revival of Gypsy and nominated for a Tony Award for her role as Momma Rose—a role that previously earned LuPone a Tony in 2008—expressed confusion over LuPone’s comments, stating she hadn’t interacted with LuPone in over a decade .
This incident has ignited broader discussions about accountability, privilege, and the need for respectful discourse within the theater industry. As the community grapples with these issues, many are calling for a reevaluation of how power dynamics and systemic biases are addressed on and off the stage.
