Patti LuPone Says Audra McDonald Is 'Not a Friend' Anymore After Backstage Controversy

Published: May 26, 2025

The two Broadway legends have had a longstanding rift, LuPone said in a recent interview.

Patti LuPone isn't mincing words when it comes to where she stands with fellow Broadway icon Audra McDonald. In a recent interview, LuPone made it clear that the two no longer have a positive relationship, saying McDonald is "not a friend."

LuPone, 76, did not elaborate on the history of their falling out, but she told the outlet it was a long-ago rift. When asked what she thought of McDonald's current turn as Rose in Gypsy, LuPone reportedly stared in silence for 15 seconds before turning to the window and sighing, "What a beautiful day."

The topic of their friendship came up in the interview when the interviewer asked LuPone's conflict with another Broadway diva, Kecia Lewis. Lewis had posted a video to Instagram criticizing LuPone for calling the Alicia Keys musical "too loud" — remarks that Lewis dubbed "bullying," "offensive," "racially microaggressive," "rude" and "rooted in privilege."

LuPone didn't hold back when asked about Lewis' post. "She calls herself a veteran? Let's find out how many Broadway shows Kecia Lewis has done, because she doesn't know what the f--- she's talking about," she said. "She's done seven. I've done 31. Don't call yourself a vet, bitch!"

As the interviewer pointed out, Lewis — who was in the original Broadway company of Dreamgirls — actually had 10 Broadway credits, and LuPone, 28. But when told that McDonald had responded to the video with supportive emojis, LuPone's reaction was equally pointed.

"Exactly," she said. "And I thought, 'You should know better.' That's typical of Audra."

McDonald received her record-making 11th Tony nomination for Gypsy, becoming the most nominated performer of all time. The actress already holds the record for wins, with six Tonys. (LuPone has three.)

LuPone and McDonald have worked together in the past, performing in concerts, galas, and in the 2007 LA Opera production of Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny. They also costarred in the 2000 New York Philharmonic's concert version of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, with LuPone as Mrs. Lovett and McDonald as the Beggar Woman.

Meanwhile, in other entertainment news, Shakira takes a tumble on stage during Montreal concert, Caitlin Clark sidelined for at least 2 weeks with left quadriceps strain, and Kenan Thompson hints at major changes coming to Saturday Night Live's 51st season.

PEOPLE reached out to McDonald's reps for comment.

The George C. Wolfe revival of Gypsy marks the first time the character of Rose has been played on Broadway by a Black actress. Tickets for the musical are now on sale.

Though LuPone has stayed silent about that production, she has praised another revival this season of a musical she formerly starred in: Jamie Lloyd's production of Sunset Blvd. starring Nicole Scherzinger.

"I love this production," she said back in December, in a voice message to NY1's Frank DiLella shared on his social media account. "The lighting. The use of the filming was something that I questioned because I don't know where I am — am I at a movie or am I at the theater? This worked brilliantly."

"The whole thing, the whole thing," LuPone said. "I was energized when I left the theater. I loved it."