Broadway star Patti LuPone’s controversial remarks about fellow actresses Audra McDonald and Kecia Lewis have now officially been denounced by her peers. 

Over 500 people have signed an open letter from Broadway’s theater community condemning the slights Lupone made about McDonald and Lewis during her now infamous interview with the New Yorker. 

LuPone, 76, called Lewis, 59, a ‘b***h’ and said McDonald, 54, was ‘not a friend’ during her headline-making interview.  

The letter, which is addressed to the American Theatre Wing, The Broadway League, and ‘the greater theater community’, claims the comments LuPone made about McDonald and Kecia was degrading, misogynistic, and a ‘blatant act of racialized disrespect.’  

DailyMail.com has reached out to representatives for LuPone, McDonald, and Lewis for comment but did not immediately receive a response. 

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Broadway star Patti LuPone’s controversial remarks about fellow actresses Audra McDonald and Kecia Lewis have now officially been denounced by her peers

Among those signing the letter is rock star Courtney Love. 

‘This is a call for accountability, justice, and respect — rooted in love for the art form and for the people who make it possible. We believe our community can do better. We believe it must do better — especially when harm is done to those who have given so much to this industry,’ the letter said.  

While the letter insists they do not intend to ‘shame’, ‘isolate’, or ‘punish’ LuPone, they have recommended that she and others who have used ‘their platform to publicly demean, harᴀss, or disparage fellow artists’ be excluded from future industry events such as the Tony Awards. 

Read More Gayle King stirs the pot between Audra McDonald and Patti LuPone

The letter described LuPone’s comments as ‘deeply inappropriate and unacceptable’ a form of ‘bullying’, ‘harᴀssment’, and ‘is emblematic of the microaggressions and abuse that people in this industry have endured for far too long, too often without consequence.’

‘To publicly attack a woman who has contributed to this art form with such excellence, leadership, and grace—and to discredit the legacy of Audra McDonald, the most nominated and awarded performer in Tony Award history—is not simply a personal offense,’ the letter said. 

‘It is a public affront to the values of collaboration, equity, and mutual respect that our theater community claims to uphold. Let us be clear: this is about more than one person. It is about a culture. A pattern. A persistent failure to hold people accountable for violent, disrespectful, or harmful behavior—especially when they are powerful or well-known. 

‘This is not about differing opinions. It is about public actions that demean, intimidate, or perpetuate violence against fellow artists. It is about the normalization of harm in an industry that too often protects prestige over people.’

They called her remarks a violation of the American Theatre Wing’s core values, which consist of ‘champion creative expression’, ‘support growth and create connections’ and to ‘make excellence known and inspire artistic greatness’. 

The letter insists they are not calling on ‘cancelling’ Lupone nor intend to signal her out, but over concern for their industry.

‘This is not about “canceling” anyone or condemning them — it is about care. Care for our artists, our values, and the future of our shared craft. We write because we want this community to thrive — not just in box office numbers or critical acclaim, but in integrity, safety, and mutual respect,’ the letter says. 

LuPone declared a interview with the New Yorker published Monday that fellow Broadway legend McDonald is ‘not a friend.’ Pictured in 2011 in NYC

‘We envision a theater industry where all artists — including Black women — are protected, valued, and celebrated. Where excellence is met with recognition, not hostility. Where harm is addressed, not ignored. Where no one is forced to choose between their artistry and their dignity.’

They did recommend several repercussions – which included excluding LuPone from future events such as the Tony Awards.

‘Individuals, including Patti Lupone, who use their platform to publicly demean, harᴀss, or disparage fellow artists— particularly with racial, gendered, or otherwise violent language—should not be welcomed at industry events, including the Tony Awards, fundraisers, and public programs,’ it said. 

The individual can return back into the community following completion of ‘comprehensive anti-bias or restorative justice programs.’ 

‘Participation, recognition, and attendance at high-profile events must be contingent on conduct that reflects community values. This includes completion of comprehensive anti-bias or restorative justice programs before re-entry into publicfacing spaces,’ they wrote. 

‘Theater insтιтutions must adopt and enforce clear, transparent policies for addressing harmful behavior—regardless of an individual’s fame or tenure in the industry,’ it also suggested.  

McDonald and LuPone pictured during rehearsal of Mahagonny at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in LA on January 30, 2007 

LuPone also slammed Kecia Lewis during her New Yorker interview

‘This would not be tolerated in other industries. In 2021, the NFL fined the Washington Commanders $10 million and removed Dan Snyder from day-to-day operations after a toxic workplace culture came to light. Will Smith was banned from the Oscars for ten years after slapping a fellow artist during a live broadcast. These organizations acted swiftly to preserve their values and the integrity of their communities. Why should Broadway hold itself to a lower standard?’ it continued.  

They also offered support to Lewis and McDonald, whom were on the receiving end of LuPone’s barbs.

‘To the Kecias and the Audras of our past, present, and future: You are the soul of this community. We honor your brilliance, your resilience, and your impact. You deserve more than applause. You deserve protection. You deserve respect,’ the letter says. 

‘We are calling for action — not to punish, but to protect. Not to divide, but to strengthen. A stronger, healthier, more equitable Broadway is possible — one where all artists are treated with dignity, safety, and respect,’ the letter also states. 

LuPone has been making headlines ever since she made various swipes against McDonald and Lewis in an interview with the New Yorker. 

While addressing comments Tony-award winning Kecia Lewis made last year, LuPone called her a ‘b***h’. (LuPone had complained about the noise levels of Lewis’ show Hell’s Kitchen, which neighbored LuPone’s own show, and the fallout led to Lewis making a video statement accusing her neighbor of being a bully and making ‘racially microaggressive’ comments). 

During an upcoming interview with CBS Mornings, Audra insisted she was unaware of any issues between her and LuPone

‘Oh, my God,’ LuPone said when the conflict Lewis was mentioned. ‘Here’s the problem. She calls herself a veteran? Let’s find out how many Broadway shows Kecia Lewis has done, because she doesn’t know what the f**k she’s talking about.’

‘She’s done seven. I’ve done thirty-one. Don’t call yourself a vet, b***h,’ she said. (The publication noted that Lewis has done 10 and LuPone 28.)

The publication noted that McDonald showed her support for Lewis’ video by dropping several supportive emojis in the comments of the post, which LuPone also took issue with.  

‘Exactly,’ she told the New Yorker when the emojis were raised. ‘And I thought, You should know better. That’s typical of Audra. She’s not a friend,’ she said, with the publication noting she emphasized friend with a ‘hard “D.”‘

Patti also seemed to deliberately avoid answering a question about McDonald’s performance in Gypsy, a show she also starred in. 

Michael Schulman of the publication wrote: ‘When I asked what she had thought of McDonald’s current production of “Gypsy,” she stared at me, in silence, for fifteen seconds. Then she turned to the window and sighed, “What a beautiful day.”’ 

McDonald was asked about Lupone’s comments during a CBS Mornings interview with Gayle King, which is set to air in full next week. 

A sneak peek of the interview showed McDonald insisting she was unaware of any issues between her and Lupone when the New Yorker interview was raised.  

‘If there’s a rift between us, I don’t know what it is,’ she replied. ‘That’s something that you’d have to ask Patti about. 

‘You know, I haven’t seen her in about 11 years, just because we’ve been busy just with life and stuff. So I don’t know what rift she’s talking about, but you’d have to ask her.’