Latest news with #2025RootsPicnic
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Patti LuPone Apologizes for Her ‘Demeaning and Disrespectful' Comments on Kecia Lewis and Audra McDonald
Patti LuPone has issued an apology after hundreds of members of the Broadway community condemned her recent remarks disparaging fellow Broadway actresses Kecia Lewis and Audra McDonald. 'For as long as I have worked in the theatre, I have spoken my mind and never apologized. That is changing today,' LuPone wrote in the opening of a statement released via Instagram on Saturday (May 31). More from Billboard Patti LuPone Called Out by Broadway Community in Open Letter Condemning 'Bullying' & 'Harassment' Cynthia Erivo Opens Up About Her Queerness: 'The More Yourself You Are, The Better Understanding Starts to Happen' The Roots Apologize to Fans After First Day of 2025 Roots Picnic Marred By Long Lines: 'Safety Will Always Be Our Number 1 Priority' 'I am deeply sorry for the words I used during The New Yorker interview, particularly about Kecia Lewis, which were demeaning and disrespectful. I regret my flippant and emotional responses during this interview, which were inappropriate, and I am devastated that my behavior has offended others and has run counter to what we hold dear in this community. I hope to have the chance to speak to Audra and Kecia personally to offer my sincere apologies,' said LuPone. LuPone's response arrived the day after after an open letter directed at her — and signed by more than 500 individuals in the Broadway world — was published in outcry to comments from the actress perceived to be 'degrading and misogynistic,' as well as a 'blatant act of racialized disrespect.' The letter was also aimed at 'a culture, a pattern' in the Broadway industry: 'a persistent failure to hold people accountable for violent, disrespectful, or harmful behavior — especially when they are powerful or well-known.' In Saturday's statement, LuPone acknowledged the message of the letter and expressed regret over what she said about her peers. 'I wholeheartedly agree with everything that was written in the open letter shared yesterday,' she wrote. 'From middle school drama clubs to professional stages, theatre has always been about lifting each other up and welcoming those who feel they don't belong anywhere else. I made a mistake, I take full responsibility for it, and I am committed to making this right. Our entire theatre community deserves better.' The New Yorker ran a profile on LuPone earlier this week that quoted her calling Lewis — who's in the Alicia Keys-created Broadway musical Hell's Kitchen, which was performed next door to the LuPone-starring The Roommate in 2024 — a 'b—-' for considering herself a stage 'veteran.' The piece had LuPone recounting complaints she'd made to Shubert Organization head Robert Wankel that sound from Lewis' Hell's Kitchen could be heard during her stage time in The Roommate. (Lewis had responded to LuPone's complaints on Instagram at the time, and deemed them 'bullying,' 'racially microaggressive' and 'rooted in privilege' for calling 'a Black show loud.') 'She calls herself a veteran?' LuPone said in The New Yorker article dated May 26. 'Let's find out how many Broadway shows Kecia Lewis has done, because she doesn't know what the f— she's talking about. Don't call yourself a vet, b—-.' LuPone also remarked that she had a 'rift' with McDonald, who'd shown support for Lewis: 'That's typical of Audra. She's not a friend,' LuPone told The New Yorker; McDonald later said she was unaware of the rift. LuPone, a three-time Tony Award and two-time Grammy Award winner, in 2024 starred as Robyn opposite Mia Farrow's Sharon in The Roommate for the dark comedy's four-month engagement on Broadway at the Booth Theatre. She just wrapped a series of concert dates that ran across select U.S. cities from late January through late May, with a couple festival appearances slated for this summer. In 2024 Lewis won her first Tony, for best featured actress in a musical, for her work as Miss Liza Jane in Hell's Kitchen, the Broadway production whose performers were also awarded the Grammy for best musical theater album last year. Hell's Kitchen is presently still playing on Broadway at the Shubert Theatre. McDonald, currently leading the Broadway revival of Gypsy at the Majestic Theatre, has won six Tonys, two Grammys and an Emmy throughout her career. Nominated for her portrayal of Rose in Gypsy, she's up for another Tony, for best actress in a musical, at this year's ceremony. She holds a record number of total Tony nominations (11). The 2025 Tony Awards will broadcast live to both coasts on CBS just a week from today, from 8 to 11 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 8; the show will also stream on Paramount+. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
2025 Truth Awards Ceremony Starring NLE Choppa, Sheryl Lee Ralph & More to Air on KTLA
UPDATE (June 2): The Truth Awards and its organizers Better Brothers Los Angeles announced Monday (June 2) that the annual ceremony would earn its television debut on Saturday, June 7. A full taping of the March 15 ceremony will broadcast on Los Angeles' KTLA at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. PT, while the ceremony will also stream on the news channel's KTLA+ app starting at 8 p.m. PT. In a statement shared with the news, BBLA co-founder Scott V. Hamilton called the 2025 Truth Awards 'a testament to the indomitable spirit of individuals who dare to be authentic in a world often resistant to change.' More from Billboard Stephen Schwartz to Receive Johnny Mercer Award at 2025 Songwriters Hall of Fame Gala Cynthia Erivo Opens Up About Her Queerness: 'The More Yourself You Are, The Better Understanding Starts to Happen' The Roots Apologize to Fans After First Day of 2025 Roots Picnic Marred By Long Lines: 'Safety Will Always Be Our Number 1 Priority' PREVIOUSLY (March 13): Awards season might be over, but a number of A-list stars are ready to keep the celebrations going on Saturday (March 15) at the 2025 Truth Awards. On Thursday (March 13), the show's organizers Better Brothers Los Angeles and The DIVA Foundation announced the official slate of performers and presenters for the annual awards ceremony celebrating Black LGBTQ+ creatives, including NLE Choppa, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Coleman Domingo, Ava DuVernay and Tamar Braxton. While most of the newly announced attendees will serve as presenters and special guests at the ceremony, Choppa will offer his debut performance during the ceremony. 'True progress requires us all to lean into discomfort and emerge stronger,' BBLA co-founder Scott V. Hamilton said in a statement. 'The presence of allies like NLE Choppa underscores that our stories resonate beyond boundaries.' This won't be the rapper's first time celebrating the LGBTQ+ community during his career: When he thanked the community in 2024 for their support of his song 'Slut Me Out 2,' Choppa made his position on acceptance clear in a post to X. 'IDC what's normalized as a rapper, I was raised to F— with who f— with you! So thank y'all for appreciating my craft,' he wrote. 'My music For ALL we do NO Discrimination.' The new slate of stars will join in celebrating the evening's honorees, including filmmaker Lee Daniels, who is set to receive the event's lifetime achievement award. 'Visibility transforms lives; it disrupts outdated scripts and writes new ones where love conquers fear,' Ralph, who also serves as founder of the Diva Foundation, said in a statement about the Truth Awards. 'This celebration serves as a mirror reflecting our truth and a window into what lies ahead.' The 2025 Truth Awards will take place Saturday at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles. Tickets for the event are currently available at the Truth Awards' website. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Roots Apologize to Fans After First Day of 2025 Roots Picnic Marred By Long Lines: ‘Safety Will Always Be Our Number 1 Priority'
The Roots apologized to fans for the delayed opening of Saturday's (May 31) first day of their 2025 Roots Picnic festival. According to Philadelphia magazine, fans complained that they waited hours in very long lines to enter the fest on its first day. Roots drummer Questlove responded to the complaints in an Instagram post featuring footage of front loaders pushing around wood chips to cover of giant muddy patches on the site at the Mann Center in Philly's Fairmount Park. 'I know today wasn't 'ideal' for The Roots Picnic in this 18th year of 2025. (This year has been particularly challenging to say the least),' he wrote. 'Transforming the Mann Center into our event takes about two weeks, but as many of you experienced, heavy rain from May 30th into the morning of the 31st caused significant damage (midnight to 7am). We nearly canceled The Picnic because conditions were unsafe for everyone involved.' More from Billboard D'Angelo Cancels 2025 Roots Picnic Performance Due to 'Unforeseen' Medical Issue Cynthia Erivo Opens Up About Her Queerness: 'The More Yourself You Are, The Better Understanding Starts to Happen' Rod Stewart Postpones Las Vegas Colosseum Residency Gig Due to Unspecified Illness CBS reported that 'throughout the afternoon and evening, the festival's social media pages were flooded with comments from people saying they waited in line for hours to get inside on Day 1.' The Philadelphia Inquirer said that hours after gates were slated to open fans started chanting 'Let us in!,' with the line not moving until after 3:30 p.m. as frustrated attendees vented their anger in comments on the event's official Insta. 'Definitely need a refund! After waiting in 3 hours in the line, I have very little trust in today's process. Yesterday was UNACCEPTABLE,' wrote one, with another adding, 'If the event is rain or shine, y'all should be prepared for rain or shine. We knew about the weather all week and we prepared for that. What happened in those entry lines yesterday was not safe.' Quest explained that instead of cancelling the festival — whose roster this year included Meek Mill, Lenny Kravitz, GloRilla, Miguel, Tems, Latto, Kaytranada and Jeezy — the group decided to take extra time to repair the site to make it safe for attendees, which he said caused a three-hour delay in opening doors. 'We prioritized caution above all else,' he wrote. 'After working hard to improve the site—factoring in the challenge of finding mulch to absorb excess water — we managed to revise the schedule so that all artists, including headliners Maxwell (whom we ALL owe an incredible amount of gratitude for doing us a solid with seconds on the clock) and Latto, could perform without violating city noise curfews.' In the note Quest said he was writing at 3 a.m. Sunday morning, said he personally worked with promoter Live Nation to work out the kinks caused by the rain. 'I wanna thank you for your understanding and patience through this adversity,' he added. 'This year has shown our ability to adapt and overcome challenges, much like we did in past years. Tomorrow is a new day, and I'm excited to revisit the Do You Want More LP on the Mann stage.' The official Roots Picnic Instagram also featured an update and apology for the delays in a message that read: 'We would like to say sorry. As we shared yesterday, the rain over the last 48 hours made the grounds unsafe. In an abundance of caution, we had to delay doors opening, resulting in the lines to get into the festival. Please understand safety will always be our number 1 priority.' Organizers said they worked hard to make sure every artist still got their stage time, extending the hours of the festival do that everyone could perform without violating city curfews. They also promised to 'do better' on Sunday (June 1), noting that there was no rain in the forecast and that they had made changes to improve the entry process and communication with fans. Day two appeared to go off with less hitches, with the official Roots Picnic posting footage of sets by Crystal Waters, the Clipse, CeeLo Green, The Roots, Kravitz, Kaytranada and Meek Mill. See the message from the Picnic below. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
