Lupone strip Hundreds of Broadway artists have issued an apology after speaking against the three -time Tony Awards winner, which they say “a pattern of inappropriate and unacceptable public comments” is in an open letter “especially in an open letter against Broadway Star Kesia Lewis.
“As long as I have worked in the theater, I have talked about my mind and never apologized. It is changing today.” Lupone said in his apology Posted Saturday on social media.
Lupone released apology in response to A LetterThe National Trade Association, the US Theater Wing was addressed for 30 May and the Broadway Theater Industry, called the decision makers “to catch the accountable people for” violent, derogatory or harmful behavior. ” More than 500 broadway artists – including James monro igalehrtKalen Alan and Tatiana Cordoba – signed an open letter, which was published for the first time Drama advertisement,
It comes after New yorker A white artist published an interview with 76 -year -old Lupone last week, in which she said about Lewis, who is a black actress, said: “Call herself a vet, bitch,” apparently referring to Lewis’s November 2024 video of Lewis. Posted on her Instagram In which he talked about Lupone’s behavior.
“This language is not only derogatory and misunderstanding-it is a clear function of racial disrespect. It forms the bullying. It forms oppression. It is a symbol of microorganisms and misconduct that people in this industry have ended for a very long time, often without results.”
Lupone’s issue with Lewis began when he acted when he acted “The Roommate,” a two-women show with Mia Fero He was at the next door “hell’s Kitchen,” A music inspired by Alicia’s life and music in which Lewis performed and won Tony for the best special actress in a music.
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According to Lewis’s video, Lupone had complained about the noise from music, which led to a change in sound design, which “negatively influenced the show and its artists”. Lewis also brought a video of a fan “Hels kitchen” to sign a video of Lupone, refusing to sign the playbill as the music is “very loud.”
“I wanted to address it, because Ms. Lupone, these actions, in my opinion, is bullying,” Louis said in the video. “They are aggressive, they are racially subtle, they are rude, they are inherent in privilege. And these tasks also lack community and leadership for someone, which you have, which is in business as long as you have.”
Lewis then asked Lupone to apologize, one Broadway veteran.
Asked, Loopon, while addressing the situation in the New Yorker article, said, “This is not uncommon on the broadway. It is all the time when the walls are shared.”
Lupone told New Yorker, “She calls herself an experienced? Let’s know how many broadways Kesia Lewis has shown, because she does not know what she is talking about.”
CBS News has reached Lupone and Lewis for comments.
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When New Yorker asked Audra McDonaldWhich appeared to support Lewis’s video, Lupone said: “This is Audra’s specialty. He is not a friend.” He said that both had issues in the past, but did not go into the details.
In her apology on Saturday, Lupone said she “regrets her flipants and emotional reactions during this interview, which was inappropriate, and I was destroyed that my behavior has angered others and has run a counter for what we are in this community.”
Lupone said, “I hope I will get a chance to personally talk to Audra and Kesia to forgive my honesty.” “I agree with honesty with everything written in an open letter shared yesterday. From middle school drama clubs to professional stages, theater has always been about lifting each other and welcoming those who feel that they are nowhere else. I have made a mistake, I take full responsibility for it, and I am better to create this right.”
McDonald’s, the most nominated and respected artist in the history of Tony Award, told CBS News’ Gayle King in an interview on Tuesday. “CBS Morning” That he did not see lupone in 11 years.
“If there is any crack between us, I don’t know what it is. It’s something you have to ask about Patty,” McDonald’s said.
On 8 June next week, Tony awards Are ready to broadcast on CBS and stream on paramount+. McDonald’s can snatch their seventh tony win to revive “gypsy”.
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