Broadway performers and theater professionals are calling on the producers of the Tony Awards to disinvite Patti LuPone from the present after the theater legend made controversial remarks about Audra McDonald and “Hell’s Kitchen” star Kecia Lewis in an interview with the New Yorker. The open letter has acquired greater than 500 signatures, together with these of Tony winners James Monroe Iglehart, J. Harrison Ghee and Maleah Joi Moon, in addition to stage and display screen veterans like Ephraim Sykes, Wendell Pierce, and Jaquel Spivey. Courtney Love can be among the many signatories.

“No artist, producer, director, or chief — no matter legacy or celeb — must be allowed to weaponize their platform to belittle, threaten, or devalue others with out consequence,” the letter reads.

Within the New Yorker piece, which was revealed on Could 26, LuPone addressed points that arose final fall when she was showing on Broadway in “The Roommate.” The theater the place the present carried out shared a wall with the Alicia Keys musical “Hell’s Kitchen,” and LuPone complained to the pinnacle of the Shubert Group concerning the loud noises from which may very well be heard subsequent door. She despatched flowers to the forged and crew of “Hell’s Kitchen” when the noise drawback was mounted. However she was later criticized on social media by Lewis, who mentioned LuPone’s habits was “bullying” and “racially microaggressive.” McDonald preferred Lewis’ message.

When LuPone was requested by the New Yorker about Lewis’ submit, she referred to as the actress a “bitch” and questioned whether or not or not Lewis, who received a Tony for “Hell’s Kitchen,” was a Broadway veteran. In the identical interview she dismissed McDonald as “not a good friend” and shaded her efficiency in “Gypsy” (LuPone received a Tony showing in an earlier revival of the musical.)

The open letter criticizes LuPone for her feedback about Lewis, stating that “this language shouldn’t be solely degrading and misogynistic — it’s a blatant act of racialized disrespect. It constitutes bullying. It constitutes harassment. It’s emblematic of the microaggressions and abuse that folks on this trade have endured for much too lengthy, too typically with out consequence.”

It goes on to criticize LuPone’s feedback about McDonald.

“To publicly assault a girl who has contributed to this artwork type with such excellence, management, and style — and to discredit the legacy of Audra McDonald, essentially the most nominated and awarded performer in Tony Award historical past — shouldn’t be merely a private offense,” the letter reads. “It’s a public affront to the values of collaboration, fairness, and mutual respect that our theater group claims to uphold.”

The letter argues that Broadway has not achieved sufficient to sentence the misbehavior of highly effective individuals within the trade, evaluating it unfavorably to different companies.

“This is able to not be tolerated in different industries. In 2021, the NFL fined the Washington Commanders $10 million and eliminated Dan Snyder from day-to-day operations after a poisonous office tradition got here to gentle. Will Smith was banned from the Oscars for ten years after slapping a fellow artist throughout a dwell broadcast. These organizations acted swiftly to protect their values and the integrity of their communities. Why ought to Broadway maintain itself to a decrease commonplace?”

The Tony Awards will air on June 8. A spokesperson for the awards didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark, nor did a spokesperson for LuPone.