“It’s so sad and so frustrating” - Lea Michele shuts down long-standing rumor that she can’t read

Lea Michele, star of Glee, is finally putting an end to a widely shared online conspiracy with sincere honesty, comedy, and defiance. In a recent episode of Jake Shane's Therapuss podcast, the Broadway actress took aim at the weird and persistent idea that she is illiterate, which has plagued her online persona for almost 10 years. Lea Michele said:

"It’s so sad and so frustrating"

Podcast hosts Jaye Hunt and Robert Ackerman initially proposed the odd claim that Michele was illiterate in 2017. They reportedly made fun of Lea Michele's antics by drawing on her late Glee co-star Naya Rivera's memoir, Sorry Not Sorry. The podcasters developed a complex argument that Michele learned scripts without being able to read them, based on Rivera's allegation that she disliked improvising during scenes.

The theory went on to snowball with the help of social media and meme culture, the notion swiftly gained traction. The idea persisted in spite of its blatant silliness, frequently coming up in discussions about Glee, Michele's time on Broadway, or her public appearances.

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Lea Michele shuts down long-standing rumor that she can’t read

Lea Michele has not only addressed the issue in an episode of Therapuss, but she has also taken a position against it on May 8, 2025. Thinking back to when she first learned about the conspiracy, she disclosed that the Glee showrunner, Ryan Murphy, was the one who informed her about its popularity on the internet.

Lea Michele recalled the precise moment on social media when the rumor surpassed even political disputes. She said:

“Ryan Murphy called me and he was like, ‘Have you heard this rumor?’ And I was like, ‘No, what’s going on?’”

She went on to add that, strangely, her alleged illiteracy acquired greater traction online, even though the entire incident began trending on the same day that then-President Donald Trump declared his desire to punch John McCain.

Michele made the decision to put the rumor to a definite stop during the podcast by reading aloud:

“Jonathan [Groff] is not here to read this for me!”

Lea Michele said sarcastically as she grabbed for a stack of notecards that Shane was holding- a reference to her co-star and lifelong friend from Glee.

Michele even mocked the conspiracy by jokingly asking:

“What does this word say?”

before presenting the card, after reading many fan-submitted queries live.

She revealed:

“The theories — they’re going to be like, ‘Jake called her in advance. She memorized it. This proves nothing.’ But I was on the debate team! I placed first in my debate competition and qualified for nationals,’”

Lea Michele's response to Shane's question about whether the rumor made her laugh or actually offended her was open and heartfelt.

She stated:

“It really depends on the day. Sometimes I think it’s crazy that people care enough about me that they would make up something like this. That someone has so little to do in their life that they waste it on me is hilarious to me.”

However, given her experience, Michele said that at other times the rumor felt offensive and personal.

“I’m one of the only women in my family to get accepted to college. My mother’s whole family was extremely poor, from the Bronx, not very well educated. My parents moved me from the Bronx to New Jersey so I could get a better education. And I did. They were so proud of me. So for someone to minimize that — it’s so sad and so frustrating.But yeah, it’s wild.”

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Not just her, but her colleagues have to deal with it

Lea Michele claims that even Jonathan Groff, a close friend, has had to respond to inquiries about the rumor. But his answer was a scathing critique of the ridiculousness. When asked about Michele's ability to read, he replied:

“‘Can Lea read? Do you really think she can’t? What the f*** does that say about you?’”

Michele laughed as she recalled.

She also revealed that Murphy, who previously joked:

"Do people think I have the time in my life to come do this?'”

Lea Michele has attempted to dispel the notion previously. In 2018, she tweeted sarcastically:

“Loved READING this tweet and wanted to WRITE you back. Literally laughing out loud at all this love you!!!”

She responded to the accusations once again, in a 2022 New York Times interview, stating:

“"I went to Glee every single day; I knew my lines every single day. And then there's a rumor online that I can't read or write? It's sad. It really is. I think often if I were a man, a lot of this wouldn't be the case.”

The Broadway actress and singer is currently touring the US and Canada. The tour, which features songs from Glee, Funny Girl, and her personal discography, begins on May 5 in Durham, North Carolina. In a press announcement, Lea Michele said:

“After spending the past few months at home with my family and celebrating the joy of becoming a mother of two, I’m so excited to get back on the stage and perform live. It will be an amazing night revisiting my time on Glee, singing songs from Funny Girl, and telling stories along the way.”

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