Latest news with #PattiLupone
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Rubio decries ‘Jesus Christ Superstar' performance, says anti-Christian attacks are nothing new
Secretary of State Marco Rubio decried a recent performance of "Jesus Christ Superstar" and said that attacks on Christianity are nothing new. During an interview on EWTN's "The World Over" published on Thursday, host Raymond Arroyo asked Rubio if he would ever support bringing "Wicked" star Cynthia Erivo's performance of the show to the Kennedy Center, as Rubio is a member due to his ex-officio status. "I don't follow any of that stuff, but just how you've described it to me, no, I mean, obviously, look, that stuff's done to be provocative and to insinuate, but I think for people of faith, none of this should be new," Rubio told Arroyo. Broadway Star Patti Lupone Says Trump-led Kennedy Center 'Should Get Blown Up' The show was performed at the Hollywood Bowl at the beginning of August in Hollywood, California. Some Christians have voiced concern about Erivo, a bisexual woman, playing Jesus. Read On The Fox News App "It's been true from the beginning in Christianity, it's been – Christianity has been mocked, Christianity has been attacked from its very inception," Rubio said. "In fact, the Church has traditionally been at its strongest when it's the persecuted church, it's been at its weakest when it sort of gets consumed by the culture." David Marcus: As Springsteen And De Niro Trash America Abroad, Kennedy Center Thrives Rubio added that the Christian faith goes against the culture. "And so, by definition, Christianity has always been countercultural," he said. "It was from its earliest days, and it's been at its strongest and most vibrant. Now, that doesn't mean we seek persecution or we don't take it on. It does. But I think we should understand that, that Christ's own command and Christ's own words, he tells us they're going to hate you because of me."Original article source: Rubio decries 'Jesus Christ Superstar' performance, says anti-Christian attacks are nothing new
NBC News
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- NBC News
Patti LuPone apologizes after controversial comments on Kecia Lewis, Audra McDonald
Broadway legend Patti Lupone apologized for controversial comments she made about Kecia Lewis and Audra McDonald in a "New Yorker" magazine interview. NBC News' Yasmin Vassoughian reports how the comments led hundreds of performers to sign an open letter calling for Lupone's ban from the Tonys. June 3, 2025
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Patti Lupone apologizes for ‘disrespectful' comments made about fellow Broadway actors during New Yorker interview
Patti Lupone has issued an apology after making what she now describes as 'demeaning and disrespectful' comments about two fellow Broadway stars in an interview with the New Yorker last week. The 'Evita' star's apology comes after hundreds of performers from the Broadway and theater communities issued an open letter first published by Playbill and called for accountability in light of Lupone's 'deeply inappropriate and unacceptable public comments' about Broadway stars Kecia Lewis and Audra McDonald. In the interview, Lupone referred to Lewis as a 'b*tch' and said McDonald was 'not a friend,' prompting a wave of backlash against the notoriously thorny legend. Lupone had previously had public spats with both performers. 'I am deeply sorry for the words I used during The New Yorker interview, particularly about Kecia Lewis, which were demeaning and disrespectful,' Lupone wrote in a statement posted to her Instagram page Saturday. '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.' Lupone added that she hopes 'to have the chance to speak to' McDonald and Lewis personally to offer her 'sincere apologies.' The letter, which was issued to the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League, also called upon the institutions to take action by not welcoming Lupone at 'industry events,' including the Tony Awards, which are presented by the two institutions. 'This language is not only degrading and misogynistic—it is a blatant act of racialized disrespect. It constitutes bullying. It constitutes harassment,' the letter stated. 'It is emblematic of the microaggressions and abuse that people in this industry have endured for far too long, too often without consequence.' The Tony Awards are set to take place June 8. In her apology on Saturday, Lupone wrote that she 'wholeheartedly' agreed with 'everything that was written' in the open letter. '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,' 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.' CNN has reached out to representatives for Lupone, Lewis and McDonald for comment. In the New Yorker interview, Lupone was asked about an incident that happened last year when Lewis posted a video to her Instagram page asking for an apology from Lupone after she had called 'Hell's Kitchen,' the stage production in which Lewis stars, 'too loud.' She said Lupone, who was at the time starring in 'The Roommate' in the theater next to 'Hell's Kitchen,' had requested that the latter's sound department make adjustments. In Lewis' video, she called herself and Lupone veterans in the industry and said Lupone's actions were 'offensive' and 'racially microaggressive.' When asked about the incident by the New Yorker, Lupone responded: 'Don't call yourself a vet, b*tch.' 'This is not unusual on Broadway. This happens all the time when walls are shared,' she added. Lupone also reacted to McDonald showing support for Lewis in the comments section of the video, telling the New Yorker she thought 'that's typical of Audra.' 'She's not a friend,' she said. McDonald was asked about Lupone's comments on 'CBS This Morning' on Thursday, but seemingly took the high road. 'If there's a rift between us, I don't know what it is,' she said. 'That's something that you'd have to ask Patti about.'
CNN
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Patti Lupone apologizes for ‘disrespectful' comments made about fellow Broadway actors during New Yorker interview
Patti Lupone has issued an apology after making what she now describes as 'demeaning and disrespectful' comments about two fellow Broadway stars in an interview with the New Yorker last week. The 'Evita' star's apology comes after hundreds of performers from the Broadway and theater communities issued an open letter first published by Playbill and called for accountability in light of Lupone's 'deeply inappropriate and unacceptable public comments' about Broadway stars Kecia Lewis and Audra McDonald. In the interview, Lupone referred to Lewis as a 'b*tch' and said McDonald was 'not a friend,' prompting a wave of backlash against the notoriously thorny legend. Lupone had previously had public spats with both performers. 'I am deeply sorry for the words I used during The New Yorker interview, particularly about Kecia Lewis, which were demeaning and disrespectful,' Lupone wrote in a statement posted to her Instagram page Saturday. '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.' Lupone added that she hopes 'to have the chance to speak to' McDonald and Lewis personally to offer her 'sincere apologies.' The letter, which was issued to the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League, also called upon the institutions to take action by not welcoming Lupone at 'industry events,' including the Tony Awards, which are presented by the two institutions. 'This language is not only degrading and misogynistic—it is a blatant act of racialized disrespect. It constitutes bullying. It constitutes harassment,' the letter stated. 'It is emblematic of the microaggressions and abuse that people in this industry have endured for far too long, too often without consequence.' The Tony Awards are set to take place June 8. In her apology on Saturday, Lupone wrote that she 'wholeheartedly' agreed with 'everything that was written' in the open letter. '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,' 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.' CNN has reached out to representatives for Lupone, Lewis and McDonald for comment. In the New Yorker interview, Lupone was asked about an incident that happened last year when Lewis posted a video to her Instagram page asking for an apology from Lupone after she had called 'Hell's Kitchen,' the stage production in which Lewis stars, 'too loud.' She said Lupone, who was at the time starring in 'The Roommate' in the theater next to 'Hell's Kitchen,' had requested that the latter's sound department make adjustments. In Lewis' video, she called herself and Lupone veterans in the industry and said Lupone's actions were 'offensive' and 'racially microaggressive.' When asked about the incident by the New Yorker, Lupone responded: 'Don't call yourself a vet, b*tch.' 'This is not unusual on Broadway. This happens all the time when walls are shared,' she added. Lupone also reacted to McDonald showing support for Lewis in the comments section of the video, telling the New Yorker she thought 'that's typical of Audra.' 'She's not a friend,' she said. McDonald was asked about Lupone's comments on 'CBS This Morning' on Thursday, but seemingly took the high road. 'If there's a rift between us, I don't know what it is,' she said. 'That's something that you'd have to ask Patti about.'
CNN
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Patti Lupone apologizes for ‘disrespectful' comments made about fellow Broadway actors during New Yorker interview
Patti Lupone has issued an apology after making what she now describes as 'demeaning and disrespectful' comments about two fellow Broadway stars in an interview with the New Yorker last week. The 'Evita' star's apology comes after hundreds of performers from the Broadway and theater communities issued an open letter first published by Playbill and called for accountability in light of Lupone's 'deeply inappropriate and unacceptable public comments' about Broadway stars Kecia Lewis and Audra McDonald. In the interview, Lupone referred to Lewis as a 'b*tch' and said McDonald was 'not a friend,' prompting a wave of backlash against the notoriously thorny legend. Lupone had previously had public spats with both performers. 'I am deeply sorry for the words I used during The New Yorker interview, particularly about Kecia Lewis, which were demeaning and disrespectful,' Lupone wrote in a statement posted to her Instagram page Saturday. '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.' Lupone added that she hopes 'to have the chance to speak to' McDonald and Lewis personally to offer her 'sincere apologies.' The letter, which was issued to the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League, also called upon the institutions to take action by not welcoming Lupone at 'industry events,' including the Tony Awards, which are presented by the two institutions. 'This language is not only degrading and misogynistic—it is a blatant act of racialized disrespect. It constitutes bullying. It constitutes harassment,' the letter stated. 'It is emblematic of the microaggressions and abuse that people in this industry have endured for far too long, too often without consequence.' The Tony Awards are set to take place June 8. In her apology on Saturday, Lupone wrote that she 'wholeheartedly' agreed with 'everything that was written' in the open letter. '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,' 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.' CNN has reached out to representatives for Lupone, Lewis and McDonald for comment. In the New Yorker interview, Lupone was asked about an incident that happened last year when Lewis posted a video to her Instagram page asking for an apology from Lupone after she had called 'Hell's Kitchen,' the stage production in which Lewis stars, 'too loud.' She said Lupone, who was at the time starring in 'The Roommate' in the theater next to 'Hell's Kitchen,' had requested that the latter's sound department make adjustments. In Lewis' video, she called herself and Lupone veterans in the industry and said Lupone's actions were 'offensive' and 'racially microaggressive.' When asked about the incident by the New Yorker, Lupone responded: 'Don't call yourself a vet, b*tch.' 'This is not unusual on Broadway. This happens all the time when walls are shared,' she added. Lupone also reacted to McDonald showing support for Lewis in the comments section of the video, telling the New Yorker she thought 'that's typical of Audra.' 'She's not a friend,' she said. McDonald was asked about Lupone's comments on 'CBS This Morning' on Thursday, but seemingly took the high road. 'If there's a rift between us, I don't know what it is,' she said. 'That's something that you'd have to ask Patti about.'
