"You should know better" - Patti LuPone opens up about Audra McDonald, says she is 'not a friend' anymore

Patti LuPone does not see eye to eye with contemporary and fellow Broadway stalwart Audra McDonald. Despite many opportunities to do so, LuPone has also seemingly gone out of her way in an effort not to soften the reality of their relationship in the public eye.

In a New Yorker profile published on May 26, Patti LuPone made it clear where the two stand, referring to McDonald as “not a friend”. The two have worked together in the past, performing alongside one another at various galas and shows. This includes the 2007 LA Opera production of Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny as well as the New York Philharmonic's concert version of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street in 2000.

Patti LuPone and Audra McDonald - Details of a fractured relationship

Audra’s name rose to the surface in the New Yorker profile when the topic of friendship was broached. First, Patti was asked about her spat with another Broadway star, Kecia Lewis, over her complaints about hearing Alicia Keys’ Hell’s Kitchen’s sound cues through their shared wall. Patti LuPone called the musical “too loud”, and Lewis deemed her comments to be racially charged and displaying clear micro-aggressions, an opinion she shared on social media via Instagram. Audra voiced her support of Lewis’ post, prompting Patti to voice her displeasure at Audra’s meddling.

"Exactly. And I thought, 'You should know better.' That’s typical of Audra."

Their relationship is fragmented and not on great footing, making it unclear how things will progress between the two Broadway titans.

Later in the interview when asked to comment on McDonald’s current run as Rose in Broadway’s hit Gypsy, LuPone’s alleged response was to stare off in silence for 15 seconds before looking out the window, letting out a sigh and exclaiming, “What a beautiful day”.

Patti also went nuclear on Lewis for her insinuations as part of the profile.

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“Oh, my God. 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*** she’s talking about. She’s done seven. I’ve done 31. Don’t call yourself a vet, b****.”

Patti LuPone added that the noise issue is “not unusual on Broadway” when walls are shared.

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