Patti LuPone apologizes to Audra McDonald and Kecia Lewis for ‘demeaning,’ ‘inappropriate’ comments

Patti LuPone is apologizing for controversial comments she made about her Broadway peers Audra McDonald and Kecia Lewis.

The Tony-winning Evita actress incited fury among the theater community after making inflammatory remarks about McDonald and Lewis in a recent interview with The New Yorker, prompting more than 500 Broadway professionals to sign a letter condemning her words as “inappropriate and unacceptable” and accusing her of “racialized disrespect.”

When reached for comment, a representative for LuPone provided Entertainment Weekly with a statement that was then shared on the actress’ social media accounts on Saturday.

“For as long as I have worked in the theater, I have spoken my mind and never apologized,” LuPone began in her statement. “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.”

Representatives for McDonald and Lewis did not immediately respond to EW’s request for comment.

In the New Yorker interview, LuPone referred to Lewis as a “bitch” and questioned her status as a theater veteran. She also said McDonald is “not a friend” and seemed to intentionally avoid discussing the actress’ lauded turn in Broadway’s Gypsy, a musical in which she also starred at one point.

“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 said in her statement. “I hope to have the chance to speak to Audra and Kecia personally to offer my sincere apologies.”

LuPone added that she understands the letter from the Broadway community, which accused her of “bullying” and “harassment.”

“I wholeheartedly agree with everything that was written in the open letter shared yesterday,” she stated. “From middle school drama clubs to professional stages, theater 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 theater community deserves better.”

The tension between Lewis and LuPone bubbled up late last year when Lewis penned an open letter accusing LuPone of “racial microaggressions.” The actress said that when she was performing in the show Hell’s Kitchen, LuPone was working on a different production in a neighboring theater and inquired “about changing a couple of our sound cues because [she] found them to be too loud.” Lewis also claimed that after the sound adjustments were made, LuPone “sent flowers to our sound and stage management team thanking them.”

In his interview, The New Yorker‘s Michael Schulman mentioned that McDonald posted supportive emojis on a video in which Lewis called out LuPone’s alleged behavior.

“Exactly,” LuPone replied. “And I thought, ‘You should know better.’ That’s typical of Audra. She’s not a friend.” LuPone also referred to an old rift between her and McDonald.

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McDonald said she had no knowledge of bad blood between them when Gayle King broached the subject on CBS Mornings on Thursday. “If there’s a rift between us, I don’t know what it is. That’s something you’d have to ask Patti about,” the six-time Tony winner said. “I haven’t seen her in about 11 years because I’ve been busy with life and stuff.”