Patti LuPone’s Comments About Audra McDonald and Kecia Lewis Spark Online Outrage
Patti LuPone may have lost the Black theater crowd after some say her comments about Audra McDonald and Kecia Lewis crossed the line.
In a new interview with The New Yorker, the Tony-winning legend threw not-so-subtle jabs at fellow Broadway powerhouses McDonald and Lewis, prompting swift criticism online, particularly from Black theater fans who say LuPone’s remarks reek of privilege and pettiness.
The tension between LuPone and Lewis dates back to 2024, when both were starring in shows playing in neighboring theaters.
LuPone reportedly complained to venue execs that Lewis’s production was “too loud.” Lewis later responded via social media, calling out LuPone for her “bullying” behavior and unchecked “privilege.” McDonald backed Lewis at the time, offering her support in the comments—and that, apparently, didn’t sit well with LuPone.
Reflecting on the dust-up in her new interview, LuPone didn’t hold back. “I thought, ‘You should know better.’ That’s typical of Audra,” she said, adding that McDonald “wasn’t a friend.”
And when asked about her own acclaimed turn in “Gypsy,” LuPone reportedly stared silently out the window for 15 seconds before offering: “What a beautiful day.”
The remarks quickly ignited social media, with many pointing out that both Lewis and McDonald are not only beloved in the Broadway community but have long used their platforms to advocate for equity in the arts.
“Patti LuPone is 22 years older than Audra McDonald and old enough to be her mother,” commented one supporter adding that, “There is no reason for Patti LuPone’s comments other than that Audra McDonald is an icon. She’s a legend, and she is the moment. Patti is not.”
Another X user didn’t hold back, noting that “Patti LuPone shows that if you’re a white theatre icon with a gay fanbase, lots of people will excuse your misogyny and racism away as being catty diva like no you’re actually just petty and racist.”
McDonald, a six-time Tony Award winner, and Lewis, who recently earned career-best acclaim, are seen as trailblazers.
Neither Lewis nor McDonald have responded publicly.
