Picture: Gilbert Flores/Selection by way of Getty Photos
How many individuals does it take to make Patti LuPone apologize? Over 500, particularly over 500 Broadway stars. After receiving an open letter calling out her current diva conduct, extra particularly, LuPone randomly singling out Audra McDonald and Kecia Lewis negatively throughout her New Yorker profile — she referred to as Lewis a “bitch” and stated McDonald was “not a buddy” — LuPone has carried out the unthinkable: apologize for her actions. “For so long as I’ve labored within the theatre, I’ve spoken my thoughts and by no means apologized. That’s altering right this moment,” she started in an announcement launched on Could 31. “I’m deeply sorry for the phrases I used throughout The New Yorker interview, notably about Kecia Lewis, which have been demeaning and disrespectful. I remorse my flippant and emotional responses throughout this interview, which have been inappropriate, and I’m devastated that my conduct has offended others and has run counter to what we maintain expensive on this group. I hope to have the prospect to talk to Audra and Kecia personally to supply my honest apologies.”
McDonald had already addressed LuPone’s unique feedback in an interview with CBS Sunday Mornings, claiming that the 2 had not spoken in 11 years and he or she had no thought why LuPone could be upset along with her. “That’s one thing you’ll need to ask Patti about. I haven’t seen her in about 11 years, simply because we’ve been busy simply with life and stuff. So I don’t know what rift she’s speaking about, however you’d need to ask her,” she defined.
LuPone additionally straight addressed the open letter launched yesterday, agreeing with the sentiment that there needs to be “accountability, justice, and respect” within the theater group. “I wholeheartedly agree with the whole lot that was written within the open letter shared yesterday,” she concluded. “From center college drama golf equipment to skilled levels, theatre has all the time been about lifting one another up and welcoming those that really feel they don’t belong anyplace else. I made a mistake, I take full duty for it, and I’m dedicated to creating this proper. Our total theatre group deserves higher.”