Patti LuPone apologises after ‘bullying' accusations from Broadway peers: ‘I made a mistake'

News.com.au

2 days ago

Patti LuPone has issued an apology after the Broadway community called her out for 'bullying' following her recent comments in the New Yorker.
'For as long as I have worked in the theatre, I have spoken my mind and never apologised. That is changing today,' LuPone wrote in a statement shared to her Instagram.
'I am deeply sorry for the words I used during The New Yorker interview, particularly about Kecia Lewis, which were demeaning and disrespectful.'
The actress added that she feels 'regret' over her 'flippant' and 'emotional' comments about her colleagues, which she called 'inappropriate.'
'I am devastated that my behaviour has offended others and has run counter to what we hold dear in this community. I hope to have the chance to speak with Audra and Kecia personally to offer my sincere apologies,' she continued.
She concluded by saying that she 'wholeheartedly' agrees with the open letter written by her Broadway peers.
'From middle school drama clubs to professional stages, theatre has always been about lifting each other up and welcoming those who feel like they don't belong anywhere else,' 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.'
LuPone, 76, faced the backlash after she lambasted fellow Broadway stars Audra McDonald and Kecia Lewis in her New Yorker profile published Monday.
'She's not a friend,' LuPone said of McDonald. She also declined to share her thoughts on McDonald's performance as Mama Rose in 'Gypsy.'
LuPone also called Lewis a 'bitch' as she criticised her for referring to herself as a Broadway 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,' LuPone said.
'She's done seven. I've done 31. Don't call yourself a vet, b***h!'
McDonald later skilfully addressed her alleged feud with LuPone in a preview from her CBS Mornings interview.
'If there's a rift between us, I don't know what it is,' the Private Practice star said.
'That's something you'd have to ask Patti about,' McDonald, 54, added.
Over 500 Broadway artists then came together to issue a scathing response to LuPone in an open letter shared Friday.
'Recently, Patti LuPone made deeply inappropriate and unacceptable public comments about two of Broadway's most respected and beloved artists,' the letter read, calling LuPone's comments 'degrading and misogynistic' and 'a blatant act of racialised disrespect.'