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Black America Web
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
Audra McDonald Responds To Patti LuPone's Shady Comments: ‘I haven't Seen Her In About 11 Years'
Source: Bruce Glikas / Getty Celebrities slamming each other in interviews is certainly nothing new, but Broadway star Patti LuPone is realizing what happens when you publicly bash a beloved (and may we add history-making) star who is Black, beautiful, talented, and unproblematic. In this case, we're talking about the one and only Audra McDonald. In a recent interview with The New Yorker , LuPone decided to air her issues with McDonald, with whom she once had a very close friendship, by stating that she was 'not a friend.' When asked in the interview how she felt about McDonald's current role on Broadway starring in Gypsy , a role in which she also played, LuPone opted for immense shade instead of an actual response. As noted in the interview, she reportedly glanced outside for 15 seconds before finally answering with, 'What a beautiful day.' McDonald is currently nominated for a Tony for her role in the stage show, and LuPone previously won a Tony for the same role back in 2008. Although she said in the interview that their falling out occurred in the past, many fans believe that LuPone is now publicly bashing McDonald because she feels that McDonald didn't support over previous comments LuPone made about the Alicia Keys-produced musical Hell's Kitchen. Now, McDonald is clapping back. In a clip from an interview with Gayle King on CBS Sunday Mornings , McDonald responded to LuPone's interview, 'If there's a rift between us, I don't know what it is.' She added, 'That's something you'd have to ask Patti about. You know, I haven't seen her in about 11 years just because we've been busy just with life. So I don't know what rift she's talking about, but you'd have to ask her.' Hell's Kitchen star Kecia Lewis previously called out LuPone for calling the show 'too loud,' comments which Lewis labeled as 'bullying,' 'offensive,' 'racially microaggressive,' 'rude' and 'rooted in privilege.' LuPone responded to the incident in the interview, saying of Lewis, 'She calls herself a veteran? 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, bitch!' Source: Richard Hartog / Getty When told by New Yorker interviewer Michael Schulman that McDonald responded to Lewis's post with supportive emojis, LuPone replied 'Exactly,' she said. 'And I thought, 'You should know better.' That's typical of Audra.' With her 2025 Tony nomination, McDonald is now the most-nominated performer in the history of the Tonys. SEE ALSO Audra McDonald Responds To Patti LuPone's Shady Comments: 'I haven't Seen Her In About 11 Years' was originally published on Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Irish Independent
Wexford County Council's ‘hands are tied' on funfairs organised on private lands
District Manager Philip Knight explained that Wexford County Council cannot do much to stop funfairs being organised on private lands and one of the only things they can do under the Events License is look at applicant's proposals for the different types of attractions. Additionally, as long as the applicants submit their documentations including public liability and safety certificates, Mr Knight said, 'if all that's in order we really have no reason to refuse their application'. He went on to say that he's aware of the concerns surrounding the funfair. However, it is on private land and it meets the criteria within the planning regulations so his 'hands are tied'. In response, Cllr Darragh McDonald asked if a traffic management plan or security plan was in place. 'I've no issue with anyone who owns a piece of land doing whatever they want with it but the amount of people coming in and out of that and the facilities that are year round being impacted. I refuse to believe that there's any traffic management out there,' said Cllr McDonald. Cllr McDonald then requested that the Council investigate what can be done to tackle these traffic issues and 'make this whole process a bit tighter'. "It's not fair to year round members of local clubs and groups that their facilities are being damaged because there's not proper security on three nights of the year,' said Cllr McDonald. Cllr Joe Sullivan shared Cllr McDonald's concerns in regards to the damage done to local facilities but didn't believe there were any laws in place to tackle these issues. Cllr Anthony Donohue subsequently chimed in, proposing that the Council introduce a Bye-Law. Cllr Sullivan explained part of the issues regarding the laws, saying he previously 'poured through the laws on that and couldn't find the law to corner it'. "Funfairs and circuses and things like that are in a certain area. It's not like organising a music festival or something like that. A funfair or circus, there's a prescribed number of days you can operate in a year,' said Cllr Sullivan.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Audra McDonald rejects Patti LuPone's Broadway rift claim: 'You'd have to ask her'
Audra McDonald rejects Patti LuPone's Broadway rift claim: 'You'd have to ask her' Show Caption Hide Caption Audra McDonald is Mama Rose in 'Gypsy' on Broadway: Watch Six-time Tony winner Audra McDonald stars as Mama Rose in Broadway's "Gypsy," stepping into the role made famous by Ethel Merman and Patti LuPone. Audra McDonald is not being baited into dishing on a fellow Broadway veteran. In a preview from an upcoming interview shared by "CBS Mornings" on May 29, McDonald, 54, told interviewer Gayle King there's no bad blood on her end after Patti LuPone, 76, said in a recent New Yorker feature that McDonald is "not a friend." "That's something you'd have to ask Patti about," McDonald said on "CBS Mornings" (weekdays, 7-9 a.m. ET). "You know, I haven't seen her in about 11 years just because we've been busy just with life and stuff. So, I don't know what rift she's talking about, but you'd have to ask her." According to CBS listings, the full interview is slated to air June 3. What did Patti LuPone say about Audra McDonald? In her New Yorker feature, which was published May 26, LuPone shared the two had a rift long ago but declined to elaborate further. When the "Agatha All Along" actress was asked about McDonald's supportive reaction to a social media post accusing LuPone of racial microaggressions, LuPone said, "I thought, 'You should know better.' That's typical of Audra. She's not a friend." "When I asked what she had thought of McDonald's current production of 'Gypsy,' she stared at me, in silence, for 15 seconds," the New Yorker's Michael Schulman noted afterward. "Then she turned to the window and sighed, 'What a beautiful day.'" 'Not a friend': Patti LuPone talks alleged Audra McDonald feud McDonald and LuPone have worked together several times, including costarring in the concert version of "Sweeney Todd" in 2000 and LA Opera's 2007 production of "Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny." McDonald is currently starring in "Gypsy" as Rose, a role for which LuPone won a Tony nearly two decades ago. She followed that win with a trophy for best actress in a featured role in a musical for "Company" in 2022. McDonald's latest role earned her a Tony nomination for best actress in a musical for the upcoming June 8 ceremony; her last win in 2014 reportedly made her the most-awarded performer in Tony history with six trophies.
Scotsman
2 days ago
- Business
- Scotsman
Edinburgh McDonald's: Look inside ‘futuristic' McDonald's in Edinburgh city centre
The fast food chain's South Andrew Street branch has undergone a 'Convenience of the Future' redesign, which promises to enhance the customer experience for those taking advantage of the dine in table service option. With consumers increasingly looking for greater speed, efficiency and choice when ordering their food, McDonald's ambitious 'Convenience of the Future' restaurant revamp programme combines a new restaurant layout with the latest technology to create a more seamless and enjoyable experience for customers. Improvements have been made for restaurant crew with a redesign of the crew room which will create a more relaxing and comfortable space for them to take a well-deserved break. While the traditional walk-in and Drive Thru remain core to how customers order, the redesign of McDonald's kitchen and dining areas as part of 'Convenience of the Future' will better integrate digital sales channels, the McDonald's App and make smarter use of internal space to enhance the dine in experience. With dedicated areas for the different ways to order, along with the removal of the front counter, the revamp will offer a more efficient way to order and will leave customers with more space to enjoy their meal. Take a look through our photo gallery for a first look inside the newly reopened McDonald's. 1 . Edinburgh's new look McDonald's - in pictures Take a look through our photo gallery for a first look inside the newly reopened McDonald's in Edinburgh. Photo: Third Party Photo Sales 2 . It's a sign McDonald's on South Andrew Street in Edinburgh has reopened following it's major 'Convenience of the Future' redesign as part of a UK-wide programme to modernise the customer experience. Locally owned by Franchisee Ryan Straub, the restaurant now features enhanced dine-in table service, improved tech integration, and better spaces for both customers and crew. Photo: Third Party Photo Sales 3 . Modern look McDonald's on South Andrew Street in Edinburgh has reopened following it's major 'Convenience of the Future' redesign as part of a UK-wide programme to modernise the customer experience. Locally owned by Franchisee Ryan Straub, the restaurant now features enhanced dine-in table service, improved tech integration, and better spaces for both customers and crew. Photo: David Mollison Photo Sales 4 . Welcome back McDonald's on South Andrew Street in Edinburgh has reopened following it's major 'Convenience of the Future' redesign as part of a UK-wide programme to modernise the customer experience. Locally owned by Franchisee Ryan Straub, the restaurant now features enhanced dine-in table service, improved tech integration, and better spaces for both customers and crew. Photo: Third Party Photo Sales
Scoop
2 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Resource Management Act Announcements On Right Track
Press Release – Employers And Manufacturers Association Resource Management Act (RMA) changes announced are a significant step forward in making the building and connection of networks and critical infrastructure much easier, says the Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA). Today's Resource Management Act (RMA) changes announced by Ministers Bishop, McClay and Watts, are a significant step forward in making the building and connection of networks and critical infrastructure much easier, says the Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA). 'Creating firm national direction through National Policy Statements and National Environmental Standards, which consenting councils then have to follow, simplifies the process for construction, maintenance and renewal of electricity and telecommunications networks,' says EMA Head of Advocacy, Alan McDonald. 'In addition, making the consenting of new quarries and expansion of existing sources of aggregate easier is also critical to any plans to build new infrastructure. From building a simple family home to multi-billion dollar construction projects, you've got to have aggregate. 'The existing rules are far too restrictive and difficult to navigate.' The steps announced today are part of the government's RMA 2 changes, and are now going out for consultation. They will also feature in the RMA 3 legislation expected to be passed next year. While quite technical, the changes go a long way to easing consenting in those sectors, without easing environmental protections. 'Councils have to give effect to these national directives, and that will effectively end the multiple differing interpretations and standards that councils, often within the same region, apply to current RMA legislation,' says McDonald. 'Many of our members have to navigate different rules from different councils just to do the same thing.' Proposed changes to freshwater regulations were also announced, while housing policy changes are also on the way. 'I'm sure our farmers will welcome many of those changes, as will the quarrying industry which has run afoul of very strict changes to wetland definitions that effectively stopped quarrying on some existing sites,' says McDonald. 'We're aware of instances in the Auckland region where water running out of native bush areas, in theory, has to be cleaner when it leaves the farm than when it entered the property.'
