The Patti LuPone Controversy: When Broadway Fandom Becomes Blind Worship

by Chris Peterson, OnStage Blog Founder

Let me start with a confession. As someone who loves the theatre, I’ve been guilty of this too. I’ve made excuses for behavior I shouldn’t have. I’ve laughed off stories that were actually pretty cruel. I’ve brushed off bad behavior because of “talent.” But enough is enough. The recent Patti LuPone controversy should be a wake-up call for all of us who claim to love this community.

Because at a certain point, passionate fandom stops being admiration and turns into infallible worship. That kind of devotion can get ugly fast. I’ve seen too many people excuse downright inappropriate behavior just because it came from someone with a Tony award. People who pride themselves on being progressive and inclusive suddenly forget their values when their favorite Broadway star decides to be petty, rude, or dismissive. It’s a toxic pattern, and it’s time we say so.

If you missed it, she recently made headlines for her New Yorker interview. The interviewer asked her what she thought of McDonald’s performance in Gypsy. She just paused. Let that silence hang in the air. Then she muttered that Audra’s not a friend. That’s it. That’s the whole statement. She offered nothing else. No respect. No acknowledgment. Just a smug little shrug of a response aimed at one of the most respected performers in the business. A performer who, by the way, was sticking up for someone else, LuPone had publicly insulted: the brilliant Kecia Lewis.

Here’s the backstory. During a Broadway run last fall, Patti, who was in The Roommate, reportedly complained that noise from the show next door — Hell’s Kitchen, which featured Kecia Lewis in her TONY-WINNING role — was interfering with her own performance by calling the show “loud.” Lewis posted on social media that she thought this was a racial microaggression and asked that as fellow Broadway veterans, we should be better. LuPone didn’t take to that well and in the New Yorker piece, called Lewis a “bitch”, and denied that she was a true Broadway veteran(Lewis has been in 10 shows over 40 years and is the reigning Tony winner for Best Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical). For the record, Kecia Lewis is a powerhouse. She’s respected. And, while I think that the racial microaggression was a misunderstanding that could have easily been solved with a conversation between the two, she absolutely didn’t deserve to be publicly belittled like that.

Audra McDonald quietly voiced her support for Lewis, and it’s clear LuPone didn’t appreciate that either. So when given the opportunity to say one gracious thing about Audra’s Gypsy, Patti chose to take a dig instead.

But let’s be clear. The problem isn’t just Patti’s behavior. The problem is that WAY TOO MANY fans eat it up. People rush to defend her every time she throws a little diva tantrum. They say, “That’s just Patti being Patti.” They post memes. They sell tote bags. They treat cruelty like it’s part of the package deal. And in doing so, they reward behavior that would get most people kicked out of a rehearsal room these days.

And I’ve seen it happen over and over. I’ve seen far too many people hand out free passes to their favorite Broadway stars without even stopping to ask, “Wait… was that OK?” The conversation ends the second the name is recognizable. Suddenly, it’s not about the behavior. It’s about the brand. People stop thinking critically and start cheerleading, no matter how much harm might be sitting beneath the surface.

This isn’t about cancelling anyone. It’s about accountability. It’s about realizing that talent doesn’t excuse everything. You can be a legend and still be wrong. Being beloved by theatre kids on TikTok doesn’t make you immune from critique.

Broadway fandom — and I say this as someone who adores this community — has a toxic side. We see it when people line up to tear down a new performer who dares take over a classic role. We see it when understudies get bullied online for “not being the original.” And now we’re seeing it again, as fans twist themselves in knots to excuse a grown woman’s petty and mean-spirited behavior toward other performers.

Let’s not pretend this is about “honesty” or “candor” either. Honesty is saying, “I didn’t care for the performance, but I respect her work.” Candor is being willing to critique with context. What happened here was shade for the sake of shade. It wasn’t bold. It was petty. And if anyone other than Patti LuPone had done it, fans would’ve been far less forgiving.

Audra McDonald has shown time and again what grace under pressure looks like. She’s an artist who lifts others up. She’s used her platform to advocate for marginalized voices. And she responded to all of this with class. A simple post with a prayer emoji and a heart. No subtext. No digs. No attempt to escalate. Just dignity.

So why are we still defending the opposite of that? Why do we keep applauding people for being difficult, as long as they’re brilliant? What message does that send to the next generation of performers watching from the wings?

I’m not asking for a world without strong personalities. I love big, bold voices. I love passion. But there’s a line. There’s a difference between passion and pettiness. There’s a difference between being fierce and being cruel. And it’s time we stop mistaking one for the other.

Theatre is a collaborative art form. You don’t build great work by tearing people down. You don’t create legacy by belittling your peers. We can love someone’s work and still hold them accountable when they show us who they are.

So here’s my ask. Let’s stop worshipping the diva and start celebrating the professional. Let’s reward kindness. Let’s uplift the ones who uplift others. And let’s remember that being a Broadway legend should mean more than just hitting the high notes. It should mean leading by example.