Patti LuPone is facing backlash from the Broadway community for recent comments she made in a new profile.
The 76-year-old three-time Tony-winning actress “is done with Broadway,” according to her new profile in The New Yorker, and it doesn’t seem like she cares about making enemies.
Patti previously received backlash in November 2024 when Tony-winning actress Kecia Lewis, who stars in the musical Hell’s Kitchen, released a public letter to the actress about a situation on Broadway.
While Patti was acting in the play The Roommate in the theatre next door to Hell’s Kitchen, she reached out to the other show’s management and asked them to change their sound cues because she felt they were “too loud.” Kecia called out Patti‘s actions as “bullying” and “racially microaggessive.”
In her New Yorker profile, Patti talked about the situation.
“Oh, my God,” Patti said. “Here’s the problem. 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–k she’s talking about.”
Patti went on Google in the middle of the interview and then said, “She’s done seven. I’ve done thirty-one. Don’t call yourself a vet, bitch.” The writer corrected the stats as actually being 10 and 28.
“This is not unusual on Broadway. This happens all the time when walls are shared,” Patti said of the noise problem.
Patti also slammed actress Audra McDonald for showing support to Kecia. She said, “Exactly. And I thought, You should know better. That’s typical of Audra. She’s not a friend”
Now, Kecia‘s co-star and fellow Tony nominee, Shoshana Bean, is speaking out in a lengthy statement.
Keep reading to find out more…
Shoshana wrote on her Instagram Stories, “Here’s what I know for certain …speaking this way about any woman is unacceptable to me. Let alone a Black woman. I don’t care how many shows or Tonys or years. Their achievements are remarkable yet irrelevant to me when it comes to the respect they inherently deserve as BLACK WOMEN. Their mere existence should be honored and revered as a miracle!!!! As white women we will never know even a fraction of what they have had to live….and still they bounce back and thrive and give and give and give even when our industry and community do not see or celebrate them in the manner they so richly deserve.”
“It is unacceptable to speak of or to Black women in ANY industry let alone OUR SHARED COMMUNITY in the manner we have just seen,” she added.
Shoshana continued, “Here’s another thing I know… My entire artistry and inspirations stands on the shoulders of Black Women… I will always stand for, with, beside, in front and behind, to protect, celebrate and raise them high.”
Shoshana is also urging young girls to not idolize Patti.
“And for all the little white girls who look up to Patti watching this all unfold? This is not how it’s done. We will not teach nor perpetuate this behavior,” she said.
“AND ANOTHER THING!!!! This community is already under attack. Our own government is threatening the very existence of art and creators on a daily basis, our funding, our validity… while simultaneously trying to erase the history and contributions of Black people in this country. We won’t allow attacks like this within our own community. This one woman is not who WEEEEEE are. The defense rests. Xo,” she concluded.
Shoshana got her start on Broadway in 2002 in the original cast of Hairspray and she went on to become the first replacement for Elphaba in Wicked. Her Broadway credits also include Waitress, Mr. Saturday Night, and most recently, Hell’s Kitchen.
Content shared from www.justjared.com.