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Audra McDonald and Gayle King in preview clip from CBS Mornings.
The Tony Award winner reacts to LuPone's statements in a new interview with Gayle King.
Editor's note (Saturday, May 31): Patti LuPone has issued a statement apologizing for her remarks against Audra McDonald and Kecia Lewis. Read that full new statement here.
A preview clip of Audra McDonald being interviewed by Gayle King for CBS Mornings has been shared on social media. During that conversation, McDonald reacts to Patti LuPone's comments about her in a profile published earlier this week.
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"We're sitting here today; there's a New Yorker piece," King sets up the question. "Patti LuPone says, about you, 'Audra is not a friend,' friend with a friend with a [hard] 'D.' I know there's a lot of back and forth. Were you surprised to hear that said about you from her?"
Kind adds, "And I'm not trying to start a Broadway dust-up here, but I'm wondering how you're processing."
McDonald replies, "I mean, I don't… If there's a rift between us, it's… I don't know what it is. That's something that you'd have to ask Patti about, you know? I haven't seen her in about 11 years, just because we've been busy — just with life and stuff."
"So I don't know what rift she's talking about," McDonald concludes. "You'd have to ask her."
This official Instagram post from CBS Mornings reads:
"Gayle King sat down with six-time Tony winner Audra McDonald earlier this week to discuss taking on her latest Tony-nominated role, Mama Rose in Gypsy on Broadway.
The interview was scheduled before actor Patti LuPone made headlines in a New Yorker article where she made eyebrow-raising comments about fellow Broadway stars, including McDonald. We asked McDonald for her thoughts.
Their full interview airs next week."
UPDATE (May 31, 2025): Patti LuPone has now shared a statement apologizing to Audra McDonald and Kecia Lewis for her remarks in The New Yorker profile.
After acknowledging that she's spent her entire career in showbiz speaking her mind and not feeling the need to apologize, LuPone's words in this new statement indicate that she's ready to change that stance moving forward.
"For as long as I have worked in the theatre, I have spoken my mind and never apologized. That is changing today.
I am deeply sorry for the words I used during The New Yorker interview, particularly about Kecia Lewis, which were demeaning and disrespectful. I regret my flippant and emotional responses during this interview, which were inappropriate, and I am devastated that my behavior has offended others and has run counter to what we hold dear in this community. I hope to have the chance to speak to Audra and Kecia personally to offer my sincere apologies.
I wholeheartedly agree with everything that was written in the open letter shared yesterday. From middle school drama clubs to professional stages, theatre has always been about lifting each other up and welcoming those who feel they don't belong anywhere else. I made a mistake, I take full responsibility for it, and I am committed to making this right. Our entire theatre community deserves better."
This story is still developing…
Moises Mendez II is a culture journalist based in Brooklyn, New York. He covers internet culture and entertainment including television, movies, music, and more. For the last two years, he was a Culture Reporter at TIME Magazine. Before that, he was a freelance journalist and his work has appeared in The Atlantic, Rolling Stone, Fast Company, and more. Moises holds a master's degree in Arts and Culture journalism from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY.
Moises Mendez II is a culture journalist based in Brooklyn, New York. He covers internet culture and entertainment including television, movies, music, and more. For the last two years, he was a Culture Reporter at TIME Magazine. Before that, he was a freelance journalist and his work has appeared in The Atlantic, Rolling Stone, Fast Company, and more. Moises holds a master's degree in Arts and Culture journalism from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY.
Bernardo Sim is the deputy editor of Out. He's also a staff contributor to The Advocate, PRIDE, and other equalpride publications. Born in Brazil, he currently lives in South Florida.
You can follow Bernardo Sim on Instagram. You can also find him on Bluesky, Threads, X/Twitter, and TikTok.
Bernardo Sim is the deputy editor of Out. He's also a staff contributor to The Advocate, PRIDE, and other equalpride publications. Born in Brazil, he currently lives in South Florida.
You can follow Bernardo Sim on Instagram. You can also find him on Bluesky, Threads, X/Twitter, and TikTok.
