Why is Patti LuPone under fire? Complete controversy explained as over 500 Broadway artists sign open letter in condemnation

Patti LuPone, the actress who starred in the musical War Paint, is facing significant scrutiny following her remarks against the beloved artists, Audra McDonald and Kecia Lewis, in an interview with The New Yorker, which was published on Monday.

In response to the comments Patti made in the interview, over 500 Broadway artists have signed an open letter written on behalf of the Broadway Theater Community on May 30, 2025, to the American Theatre Wing and the Broadway League, calling Patti out for her behaviour as harassing and bullying.

Among the 500 Broadway artists who signed the open letter were Maleah Joi Moon, Wendell Pierce from the HBO drama series The Wire, and Aladdin's James Monroe Iglehart.

More about why Patti LuPone is under fire

The Beau Is Afraid star, Patti LuPone, is under fire after she made some unpleasant comments in her interview with The New Yorker, which was released on May 26, 2025. The interview is titled Patti LuPone Is Done with Broadway—and Almost Everything Else.

In the interview, she made remarks on veterans Kecia Lewis and Audra McDonald. She called Kecia a "b*tch," who "doesn’t know what the f–k she’s talking about." She said:

''Oh, my God. 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*tch.”

And about McDonald, she referred to her as "not a friend." These remarks of LuPone were widely criticized in the theatre community and led to over 500 Broadway artists signing an open letter. Here is what the letter read, as per the NY Post:

''Recently, Patti LuPone made deeply inappropriate and unacceptable public comments about two of Broadway’s most respected and beloved artists. This language is not only degrading and misogynistic – it is a blatant act of racialized disrespect. It constitutes bullying. It constitutes harassment. It is emblematic of the microaggressions and abuse that people in this industry have endured for far too long, too often without consequence.''

The letter continued:

''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.”

The letter also read that the Broadway community is not willing to welcome artists back who harm others. It also demanded to put an end to the behaviour LuPone displayed.

The letter also read:

''We will no longer tolerate violence – verbal, emotional, or physical – against artists within our own community. No more free passes. If our industry is truly committed to equity, justice, and respect, then those values must be applied consistently, even when it’s uncomfortable.''

Audra McDonald responded to Patti's comments in an interview on CBS Mornings on Thursday, in which she said that she was surprised by her comments and didn't know what she was talking about. She also said:

''I mean, if there’s a rift between us, I don’t know what it is. That’s something you’d have to ask Patti about. I haven’t seen her in about 11 years because I’ve been busy with life and stuff. So, I don’t know what rift she’s talking about. You’d have to ask her.''

As of now, LuPone has not responded to the open letter signed against her remarks.

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