Overview

• In a recent New Yorker profile, LuPone referred to Kecia Lewis as a “bitch” and said Audra McDonald was “not a friend,” rekindling a dispute that began last November when LuPone complained about noise from Hell’s Kitchen next door.
• More than 500 Broadway artists, including Tony winners Wendell Pierce and James Monroe Iglehart, signed an open letter describing LuPone’s remarks as bullying, harassment, and racialized disrespect.
• The letter calls on the Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing to disinvite LuPone from high-profile events and to establish conduct-based eligibility criteria for industry gatherings.
• Audra McDonald said she had no knowledge of any rift with LuPone, noting she has not seen the actress in over a decade and suggesting LuPone explain her own motivations.
• The controversy has spurred industry-wide debates on power dynamics and accountability in the run-up to the June 8 Tony Awards, with calls for stronger respect and inclusivity standards.