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Patti LuPone Misses Tony Awards as Broadway Weighs Her Apology

Her absence at Radio City Music Hall came after she apologized for demeaning comments, with Oprah Winfrey making a pointed reference to the controversy during the ceremony.

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Oprah Winfrey speaks onstage during the 78th Annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall on June 8, 2025 in New York City. In the inset image, Patti LuPone attends the "Another Simple Favor" New York screening at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 27, 2025 in New York City.
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Overview

  • In a May 26 New Yorker profile, LuPone disparaged Kecia Lewis as a “bitch” and said Audra McDonald was “not a friend,” igniting accusations of racial insensitivity.
  • More than 500 Broadway artists signed an open letter calling for her disinvitation from the Tony Awards, prompting widespread debate over professional conduct.
  • On May 31, LuPone issued an Instagram apology, expressing deep remorse for her words and pledging to offer personal apologies to Lewis and McDonald.
  • She did not attend the 78th Tony Awards on June 8 at Radio City Music Hall, where Oprah Winfrey delivered a veiled nod to the dispute during her on-stage remarks.
  • Broadway performers and leaders remain split on LuPone’s return, with some urging forgiveness and others emphasizing accountability and respect.