Patti LuPone apologizes for Audra McDonald, Kecia Lewis criticism in New Yorker story
Patti LuPone is singing a different tune after her candid comments about Audra McDonald and Kecia Lewis sparked a Broadway backlash.
LuPone, who criticized former costar McDonald and "Hell's Kitchen" star Lewis in a recent New Yorker profile, walked back her fiery statements in a May 31 statement shared on her social media pages.
"For as long as I have worked in the theatre, I have spoken my mind and never apologized. That is changing today," wrote Lupone, 76. "I am deeply sorry for the words I used during The New Yorker interview, particularly about Kecia Lewis, which were demeaning and disrespectful."
In her New Yorker interview, which was published May 26, LuPone dismissed Lewis' criticism of her previous comments about the "loud" volume of the "Hell's Kitchen" production, which played next door to LuPone's Broadway comedy "The Roommate." Lewis called out LuPone in an Instagram video in November 2024, saying LuPone's comments and actions were "racially microaggressive."
When the "Agatha All Along" actress was asked about McDonald's supportive reaction to Lewis' post, Lupone said, "I thought, 'You should know better.' That's typical of Audra. She's not a friend."
LuPone's controversial remarks led to an open letter from the Broadway theater community that called for LuPone and other performers who "use their platform to publicly demean, harass or disparage fellow artists" to be excluded from the Tony Awards and similar industry events.
"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 wrote in her apology. "I hope to have the chance to speak to Audra and Kecia personally to offer my sincere apologies."
LuPone said she "wholeheartedly" agreed with the open letter, adding that "theatre has always been about lifting each other up and welcoming those who feel they don't belong anywhere else."
What did Audra McDonald say about alleged Patti LuPone feud?
In a preview from an upcoming interview shared by "CBS Mornings" on May 29, McDonald, 54, told interviewer Gayle King there's no bad blood on her end after LuPone said the women weren't friends in The New Yorker interview.
"That's something you'd have to ask Patti about," McDonald said in the clip. According to CBS listings, the full interview is slated to air June 3.
McDonald and LuPone have worked together several times, including costarring in the concert version of "Sweeney Todd" in 2000 and LA Opera's 2007 production of "Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny." In her New Yorker feature, LuPone shared the two had a rift long ago but declined to elaborate further.
"You know, I haven't seen her in about 11 years just because we've been busy just with life and stuff," McDonald told King. "So, I don't know what rift she's talking about, but you'd have to ask her."
McDonald is currently starring in "Gypsy" as Rose, a role for which LuPone won a Tony nearly two decades ago. She followed that win with a trophy for best actress in a featured role in a musical for "Company" in 2022.
McDonald's latest role earned her a Tony nomination for best actress in a musical at the upcoming June 8 ceremony; her last win in 2014 reportedly made her the most-awarded performer in Tony history with six trophies.