Latest news with #KeciaLewis
Deccan Herald
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Deccan Herald
June 20, 2025: Best photos from around the world
Botafogo's Igor Jesus celebrates scoring their first goal. Credit: Reuters Photo Aerial view of Boca Juniors fans at Miami Beach ahead of the match. 2024 Tony award winner Kecia Lewis performs during the Broadway Celebrates Juneteenth concert at Times Square in New York City, U.S., June 19, 2025. Credit: Reuters Photo Members of the U.S. National Guard train for crowd control with batons, as improvements of living conditions for about 4,000 members of the U.S. National Guard take place, at Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos, California, U.S. June 19, 2025. Credit: Reuters Photo A forensic technician works a crime scene where exiled former Nicaraguan military officer Roberto Samcam was killed at his home, in San Jose, Costa Rica June 19, 2025. Credit: Reuters Photo
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
On Tonys night, Broadway divided over Patti LuPone's remarks about Audra McDonald
More than a few years ago now, my mom asked me why the UK's royal family seemed to be all over the news all the time. That's all I see when I turn on my computer, she said. I think that might be because you've been clicking on some stories about Meghan and Harry, I told her, leading to lots more stories about Meghan and Harry. Similarly, I've lately been treated to many variations on basically the same recycled story about the great offstage Broadway drama featuring Patti LuPone and Audra McDonald. Stop, I cry, though if they weren't my Meghan and Harry, I wouldn't keep seeing this stuff. In case they're not your Meghan and Harry, here's the deal: A recent New Yorker profile of LuPone made news, none of it good for her. In the piece, she's quoted saying disparaging things about two Black actresses, her fellow Tony winners Kecia Lewis and McDonald, Broadway's most decorated star. Some 700 Broadway performers signed a petition saying LuPone should be disinvited from Sunday night's Tony Awards for her bullying and racially insensitive remarks. She then profusely apologized, falling on her own knife like Liù in Puccini's 'Turandot,' and various stage actors have been weighing in on whether or not she should be forgiven. Now, Patti LuPone has always been unfiltered, in that one way like the Donald Trump she's said she hates; you do not want to be caught with your cell phone ringing when she's on stage. Only she comes off in this profile as generous and gigantic and human and hurt and self-sabotaging but also finally going too far in letting loose on others, and in general. Is she for real or putting on a show when shouting at New York Rangers, 'Take your clothes off, boys! Naked hockey! No cups — I want full frontal! HA!' She is in let-'em-have-it mode throughout, referring to Glenn Close, the actress who replaced her in 'Sunset Boulevard' 100 years ago as a 'bitch,' and telling the New Yorker writer Michael Schulman more than once that the now Trump-run Kennedy Center 'should get blown up.' Which, hello, is not in any way OK. Serious or not, and people who say these things always insist that they were not, it's wrong to complain about Trump's violent rhetoric and then go around talking like this. So LuPone should also walk those remarks way the heck back. And I do not love to see women tearing down women; are things really not hard enough? Kevin Kline got off easy in the profile; all LuPone said about him is that he was a terrible boyfriend back in the day. Despite all of the many posts I have read about the explosions that followed the publication of the profile, I would never have understood the genesis of the contretemps without the guidance of New York Times theater reporter Michael Paulson. He reported on what happened after LuPone complained last year that noise from the Black-led Alicia Keys musical 'Hell's Kitchen' could be heard in the theater next door, where LuPone and Mia Farrow were performing in 'The Roommate.' LuPone took her gripe to the Shubert Organization, which runs both theaters. So far, perfectly normal, and something that happens all the time. Shubert fixed the problem. But then, Paulson wrote, after LuPone sent flowers to the 'Hell's Kitchen' sound crew, she was videotaped describing the musical as 'loud,' and refusing to sign a 'Hell's Kitchen' playbill. That's when Kecia Lewis, who is in 'Hell's Kitchen,' responded with a video calling LuPone's behavior 'racially microaggressive' by reinforcing stereotypes. McDonald weighed in by posting some supportive emojis on the video. In the New Yorker interview, LuPone said of Lewis, 'Don't call yourself a vet, bitch.' Which was way over the line. She said McDonald was 'not a friend,' and then declared that she needed a nap. Of course she did; setting yourself on fire can be very draining. McDonald wisely said she didn't know about any rift between herself and LuPone. Lewis has wisely not made any public statement. 'For as long as I have worked in the theater,' LuPone said in her own statement, 'I have spoken my mind and never apologized. That is changing today. … 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.' Both McDonald and LuPone have given me so much joy, not just over the years but this year, that this is drama I could have done without. McDonald ripped my heart out and then handed it back to me with her 'this-isn't-your-Momma's-Momma-Rose' performance in 'Gypsy.' I spent a lot more than I could afford to be on the front row with our Aunt Mimi Turque, who was cast by composer Jule Styne to play June in an early national touring company of the show. LuPone also showed me a wonderful time recently with her show at the Kauffman Center, where she received five standing ovations, one before she sang a note. It's the only time in my experience — Can you say 'gay icon'? — that there hasn't been a line outside a ladies' room at the Kauffman at intermission, and I went home so energized from her performance, which these days in particular is worth a lot. So what I want to say is that with everything going on in the world that the arts stand squarely against, energy spent on fury at someone who has groveled from here to Argentina is energy wasted. I still love both of you 'Ladies Who Lunch,' the Sondheim anthem to female rage that I've seen both of you crush. I'd like to think that LuPone learned something from this whole episode — though again, those comments about the Kennedy Center still do need clearing up asap. We could all of us, of course, be less eager to pounce and readier to forgive. The many ageist comments about Patti, who is 76, by those Audra fans who aren't ready to let this go, and say they never will be, aren't OK, either. Unfortunately, art doesn't always bring even the relatively like-minded together. As always, that's up to us. UPDATE: I thought McDonald would win her 7th Tony tonight for the same role that LuPone won for in 2008, but no, the award for leading actress in a musical went to Nicole Scherzinger for her Broadway debut in a revival of 'Sunset Boulevard.' Pretty sure LuPone would not have wanted to be at the awards show, since it was Glenn Close who introduced Scherzinger singing, 'It's As If We Never Said Goodbye.' And Oprah Winfrey, who presented the award to Scherzinger, made some interesting faces as she made the show's only veiled reference to the controversy, but she did not mention LuPone by name.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Patti LuPone Skips Tony Awards Amid Audra McDonald Controversy — Watch Oprah Winfrey Joke About It On-Air
In any other year, whether or not Patti LuPone merely attended the Tony Awards wouldn't be newsworthy — but this isn't just any other year for her. Speculation swirled in recent weeks over whether LuPone would show her face at Sunday's annual salute to Broadway, following the extremely public backlash to controversial remarks she made about fellow Broadway stars Kecia Lewis and Audra McDonald in a recent New Yorker profile. More from TVLine Tonys 2025: Hamilton's Original Broadway Cast Reunites for Sleek Medley - Watch Matlock Season 2: Is Matty's Marriage in Trouble? EP Previews 'Negotiations' Ahead Tony Awards 2025: How to Watch Broadway's Biggest Night Online LuPone ultimately did not attend the ceremony, and while no one directly mentioned her during the broadcast, Oprah Winfrey made a not-so-subtle reference to the whole situation while presenting the award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical, a category in which McDonald was nominated. 'Our celebration of this astounding year in live theater turns to the women whose work sparked lively conversations among theater fans,' Winfrey began, shooting the audience a knowing look, which drew some big laughs. 'Lotta talking going on!' she added. If this is all news to you, here's a quick breakdown: In the New Yorker interview, LuPone was asked about an incident last fall when she was acting in The Roommate at the Shubert Theatre, which shared a wall with the Booth Theatre, home to the musical Hell's Kitchen. LuPone complained to the head of the Shubert Organization that Hell's Kitchen was too loud, and she ultimately sent flowers to the show's cast and crew when they agreed to turn down the music. Lewis, who stars in Hell's Kitchen, took to social media to call out LuPone's 'racially microaggressive' behavior, which she deemed 'bullying.' Lewis' comments were liked on social media by McDonald, who is currently headlining Broadway's revival of Gypsy in the same role LuPone played more than 15 years ago. Not only did LuPone flippantly refer to Lewis as a 'bitch' in the interview, but when asked about McDonald liking Lewis' comments, LuPone replied, 'She's not a friend.' When asked for her thoughts on McDonald's production of Gypsy, LuPone reportedly stared back at the interviewer for 15 seconds before looking out the window and saying, 'What a beautiful day.' Members of the Broadway community immediately expressed explicit outrage over LuPone's interview, with hundreds signing an open letter on May 30, condemning her comments about Lewis and McDonald — even requesting that she be disinvited from the Tonys as punishment. LuPone posted an apology to Instagram on May 31, saying that she was 'deeply sorry' for the comments she said in the interview, 'particularly about Kecia Lewis, which were demeaning and disrespectful.' She expressed regret over her 'flippant and emotional responses,' adding that she hoped to 'speak to Audra and Kecia personally' to offer her 'sincere apologies.' During a subsequent appearance on CBS Sunday Morning, McDonald was asked by Gayle King about her thoughts on LuPone's comments. 'If there's a rift between us, I don't know what it is,' McDonald said. 'That's something that you'd have to ask Patti about.' LuPone was not nominated for any Tony Awards this year, but Mia Farrow, her co-star in The Roommate, was nominated for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play. Hit PLAY on the video above to watch Winfrey's shady nod to the drama, then drop a comment with your thoughts below. Tony Awards 2025: Complete List of Winners View List Best of TVLine The Emmys' Most Memorable Moments: Laughter, Tears, Historical Wins, 'The Big One' and More People's Choice Awards: This Is Us, Grey's Anatomy and More TV Winners Billboard Music Awards: Post Malone, Kanye West and More 2020 Winners
CTV News
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Patti LuPone's drama is dividing the Broadway community ahead of the Tony Awards
Patti LuPone arrives at an FYC screening for "Agatha All Along" on April 19, 2025, at the DGA Theater Complex in Los Angeles. (Andrew Park/Invision/AP via CNN Newsource) Patti LuPone may have apologized for some recent controversial remarks, but that doesn't mean the curtain has dropped on the drama. The actress sparked a major backlash after disparaging comments she made about fellow Broadway stars Kecia Lewis and Audra McDonald in a recent interview with the New Yorker. LuPone referred to Lewis as a 'b**ch' and said McDonald was 'not a friend.' Hundreds of performers from Broadway and other theater communities then wrote a letter in which they characterized LuPone's comments as 'degrading and misogynistic—it is a blatant act of racialized disrespect.' 'It constitutes bullying. It constitutes harassment,' they wrote. 'It is emblematic of the microaggressions and abuse that people in this industry have endured for far too long, too often without consequence.' The group called for LuPone to be disinvited from industry events, including Sunday's Tony Awards. LuPone apologized last weekend on social media, posting a statement in which she said she hoped to be able to speak with the pair to make 'sincere apologies.' 'I am deeply sorry for the words I used during The New Yorker interview, particularly about Kecia Lewis, which were demeaning and disrespectful,' Lupone wrote. '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.' The controversy ahead of the Tony Awards has raised interest in the event, sparking conversation about whether LuPone, who has long reigned as Broadway star, will make an appearance. But not everyone feels harshly towards her. Actress Mia Farrow has garned a Tony nomination for the Broadway play 'The Roommate' in which she costars with LuPone. In a recently published interview with Deadline, Farrow talked about her 30-year friendship with the woman she dubbed the 'goddess of Broadway.' 'We live near each other. Always have. Two of our kids were in the same class at school, at the same school, her son and my son, and I met her on New Year's Eve, actually,' Farrow told the publication. 'She and her husband gave a New Year's Eve party, and Steve Sondheim, who was one of my oldest friends, 50 years, he invited me to come to the party at Patti's 30 years ago, and that's how I met Patti.' Farrow, who mentioned the New Yorker interview in her conversation with Deadline without addressing the controversy, said working with her neighbor and friend was a positive experience. 'Patti and I never had a negative moment, by the way,' Farrow said. 'Working together didn't change our friendship. I think our friendship is deeper now.' 'Abbott Elementary' star Sheryl Lee Ralph, who is also a decorated Broadway performer, most notably playing the role of Deena Jones in the original 1981 production of 'Dreamgirls,' weighed in as well. 'Why not be nice?' Ralph said of LuPone. And while Ralph said she was 'not going to judge' LuPone, she did have some words of wisdom for the 'Evita' star. 'It was a moment where maybe you want to zip it,' she said. 'Inner thoughts don't always have to be outer thoughts, that might have been one of those moments.' British weekly conservative magazine writer Ella Whelan penned a piece with the headline, 'Patti LuPone is a diva – not a racist.' 'LuPone is notorious for putting the broad in Broadway – her loud mouth is infamous,' Whelan wrote, noting some of her other outspoken comments. 'Forget white privilege, this is diva privilege – when you're that good an entertainer, you can pretty much say what you want,' Whelan added. Lisa Respers France, CNN
CNN
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Patti LuPone's drama is dividing the Broadway community ahead of the Tony Awards
Patti LuPone may have apologized for some recent controversial remarks, but that doesn't mean the curtain has dropped on the drama. The actress sparked a major backlash after disparaging comments she made about fellow Broadway stars Kecia Lewis and Audra McDonald in a recent interview with the New Yorker. LuPone referred to Lewis as a 'b**ch' and said McDonald was 'not a friend.' Hundreds of performers from Broadway and other theater communities then wrote a letter in which they characterized LuPone's comments as 'degrading and misogynistic—it is a blatant act of racialized disrespect.' 'It constitutes bullying. It constitutes harassment,' they wrote. 'It is emblematic of the microaggressions and abuse that people in this industry have endured for far too long, too often without consequence.' The group called for LuPone to be disinvited from industry events, including Sunday's Tony Awards. LuPone apologized last weekend on social media, posting a statement in which she said she hoped to be able to speak with the pair to make 'sincere apologies.' 'I am deeply sorry for the words I used during The New Yorker interview, particularly about Kecia Lewis, which were demeaning and disrespectful,' Lupone wrote. '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.' The controversy ahead of the Tony Awards has raised interest in the event, sparking conversation about whether LuPone, who has long reigned as Broadway star, will make an appearance. But not everyone feels harshly towards her. Actress Mia Farrow has garned a Tony nomination for the Broadway play 'The Roommate' in which she costars with LuPone. In a recently published interview with Deadline, Farrow talked about her 30-year friendship with the woman she dubbed the 'goddess of Broadway.' 'We live near each other. Always have. Two of our kids were in the same class at school, at the same school, her son and my son, and I met her on New Year's Eve, actually,' Farrow told the publication. 'She and her husband gave a New Year's Eve party, and Steve Sondheim, who was one of my oldest friends, 50 years, he invited me to come to the party at Patti's 30 years ago, and that's how I met Patti.' Farrow, who mentioned the New Yorker interview in her conversation with Deadline without addressing the controversy, said working with her neighbor and friend was a positive experience. 'Patti and I never had a negative moment, by the way,' Farrow said. 'Working together didn't change our friendship. I think our friendship is deeper now.' 'Abbott Elementary' star Sheryl Lee Ralph, who is also a decorated Broadway performer, most notably playing the role of Deena Jones in the original 1981 production of 'Dreamgirls,' weighed in as well. 'Why not be nice?' Ralph said of LuPone. And while Ralph said she was 'not going to judge' LuPone, she did have some words of wisdom for the 'Evita' star. 'It was a moment where maybe you want to zip it,' she said. 'Inner thoughts don't always have to be outer thoughts, that might have been one of those moments.' British weekly conservative magazine writer Ella Whelan penned a piece with the headline, 'Patti LuPone is a diva – not a racist.' 'LuPone is notorious for putting the broad in Broadway – her loud mouth is infamous,' Whelan wrote, noting some of her other outspoken comments. 'Forget white privilege, this is diva privilege – when you're that good an entertainer, you can pretty much say what you want,' Whelan added. The 78th Annual Tony Awards, hosted by 'Wicked' film star and Tony, Grammy and Emmy award-winner Cynthia Erivo, will be broadcast live on Sunday, June 8 at 8 p.m. ET on the CBS Television Network and streaming on Paramount+ in the US.
