Patti LuPone Sparks Backlash With Feud Against Broadway Stars Audra McDonald, Kecia Lewis

Patti LuPone has sparked significant controversy within the Broadway community after a New Yorker interview where she criticized fellow theater veterans Audra McDonald and Kecia Lewis. LuPone revealed she no longer considers McDonald a friend, responding with silence and deflection when asked about McDonald's role in Gypsy, a production closely associated with LuPone. She also dismissed Lewis's veteran status on Broadway, disparaging her résumé and calling her a derogatory term, despite fact-checks showing Lewis has appeared in more Broadway shows than LuPone initially claimed. The conflict traces back to LuPone raising complaints about noise from Lewis's show Hell’s Kitchen, which Lewis publicly labeled as bullying and racially microaggressive. Broadway insiders and fans have widely condemned LuPone's remarks as disrespectful and rooted in privilege, with calls for accountability growing louder. Lewis has urged LuPone to offer a sincere apology rather than performative gestures, while others criticize LuPone's harsh tone and treatment of Black women in theater.