Patti LuPone has issued an apology for her controversial remarks on Audra McDonald and Kecia Lewis.
The Broadway icon made headlines recently for her comments against the two aforementioned actresses, and it resulted in an open letter from 500 performers that condemned her actions as "degrading and misogynistic" and "a blatant act of racialized disrespect."
What Did Patti LuPone Say in Her Apology Statement?
In an Instagram post last Saturday, LuPone finally offered an apology to McDonald and Lewis for her controversial remarks about them.
She noted that this is the first time in her career that she issued an apology statement for any of the controversial comments that she made.
"For as long as I have worked in theatre, I have spoken my mind and never apologized. That is changing today. I am deeply sorry for the words I used during The New Yorker interview, particularly about Kecia Lewis, which were demeaning and disrespectful," LuPone said.
"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."
LuPone also acknowledged the open letter and promised that she is taking full responsibility for the issue.
"I wholeheartedly agree with everything that was written in the open letter shared yesterday. 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," she continued.
"I made a mistake, I take full responsibility for it, and I am committed to making this right. Our entire theatre community deserves better."
What Are Patti LuPone's Controversial Remarks About?
In an interview with The New Yorker, LuPone claimed that McDonald is "not a friend" anymore due to an alleged rift that happened years ago.
When asked about what she thinks of McDonald's starring role in Gypsy, LuPone stayed in silence for 15 seconds, stared on the window, and simply replied, "What a beautiful day."
The topic was brought up when LuPone was asked about her feud with 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*ck she’s talking about. She’s done seven. I’ve done 31. Don’t call yourself a vet, b*tch!" LuPone candidly said.
When the interviewer brought up that McDonald was supportive of Lewis, LuPone said, "Exactly. And I thought, 'You should know better.' That’s typical of Audra."
Days later, McDonald's reacted to LuPone's claims in an interview, where she said that she was not aware that she had a rift with the actress.
"I mean, if there’s a rift between us, I don’t know what it is. That’s something you'd have to ask Patti about," she replied.
"I haven’t seen her in about 11 years because I've been busy with life and stuff. So, I don’t know what rift she’s talking about. You’d have to ask her."
What do you think of LuPone's apology? Let us know in the comments!
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