Lillias White Calling Out Deaf Audience Member For Using CC Device- Page 3

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 10/13/22 at 5:28pm

That's not what happened. Please read the updated account from both a cast member and the audience member. This is still an important teachable moment but no need to continue to pass judgement on behavior that didn't happen."

Thank you. In my opinion, this woman should have discussed it with staff after the show instead of bringing it to social media. Then the Terrible Twitter Trolls wouldn't be able to insert their opinion (not to mention the assholes here) and be able to be awful to cast members in the process. Lillias did nothing wrong and this was blown out of proportion. People looking to be offended will always be. 

 

Updated On: 10/14/22 at 05:28 PM

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 10/13/22 at 5:31pm

Sutton Ross said: "That's not what happened. Please read the updated account from both a cast member and the audience member. This is still an important teachable moment but no need to continue to pass judgement on behavior that didn't happen."

Thank you. In my opinion, this woman should have discussed it with staff after the show instead of bringing it to social media. Then the Terrible Twitter Trolls wouldn't be able to insert their opinion and be able to be awful to cast members in the process. Lillias did nothing wrong and this was blown out of proportion. People looking to be offended will always be."

Agreed. Not a fan at all of how she posted that video devoid of any details last night, got people riled up, then waited 13 hours to clarify with information that shows it wasn't that big of a deal when it happened, and how everyone involved handled it professionally:

"The show was not disrupted or interrupted. This moment happened when she was not singing & other action was happening onstage. If I had been recording, I’d say she handled it quickly and concisely. I was not publicly shamed. It was NOT a LuPone incident.

The company and staff DID follow protocol. The cast rarely leaves the stage, so it would be difficult for them to communicate to SM. However, they did at some point and followed protocol. SM contacted HM who did confirm it was a captioning device, and SM did tell the actors."

It would have been nice if she had mentioned all this from the start, before people started drawing their own mistaken conclusions.

Updated On: 10/13/22 at 05:31 PM

[KJisgroovy]

Posted: 10/13/22 at 5:47pm

Except Emily said she wasn't aware of these devices before the incident. And many folks on this thread and on twitter said the same. So. Many people have been taught something by this moment. 

Updated On: 10/13/22 at 05:47 PM

[Luminaire2]

Posted: 10/13/22 at 5:48pm

BorisTomashevsky said: "I only skimmed the tweet from the cast member, but it basically said (across four or five paragraphs)…

”I’m in the show, I know Samantha, the word Yelled is being taken out of context, Hermes does this look-at-the-audience thing at the start of the show, Samantha was unfortunately sitting in that area, Lillias didn’t change any lines or break character in any way, we barely leave the stage during the show so there was no chance to alert stage management.”

I wish I could give a clearer summary, but from minute one I was confused by how she said “I know Samantha” and basically that Samantha was wrong. She kinda lost me there. Shrug."

 

Yes that was pretty much it. Lilias said some subtle things, which did draw attention to Samantha, but according to that Cast members the onstage cast didn't really notice Lilias do anything.

 

She basically was just saying Lilias did not stop the show, it wasn't some big moment, but it still wasn't handled properly, and she wished it hadn't happened, etc.

[BroadwayNYC2]

Posted: 10/13/22 at 6:06pm

One thing we forget with the infamous Patti/Gypsy situation: it was a New Yorker photographer there with the productions approval 

[Alexander Lamar]

Posted: 10/13/22 at 6:22pm

I want to note that while Emily and other Workers may not have heard it, the audience member (in reply to Emily’s tweet) state that Lillias did specifically tell her to stop recording and other audience members heard it and mentioned it to her at intermission/after the show as well. The entire audience and cast may not have heard this because it apparently happened at the top of the show, before the mics are turned on. 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 10/13/22 at 6:44pm

Also, it didn’t have to be a “Patti moment” where the show stops and the audience collectively drops their jaws, for an actor (or anyone) to make an audience member feel needlessly uncomfortable and embarrassed. No audience member with a disability should, at any time, be made to feel unwanted or as if they’re the ones being watched when using a tool provided for them to enjoy the show with everyone else.

It doesn’t matter if only a few people heard it or 1000 and if it was at the top of the show, then she sat there for 2 and a half hours feeling uncomfortable and that’s just not something that should happen. 
 

Im glad the situation seems to have been resolved and also that it’s started a discussion in the community about how to deal with things like this moving forward, because with these captions now available in more theaters it’s something that could easily happen again and again. 

[RUkiddingme]

Posted: 10/13/22 at 7:13pm

I'm glad this is all happening in the public - that's the only way things will change.

 

[Fosse76]

Posted: 10/13/22 at 7:38pm

Pashacar said: "...if there's a standard-issue device it could make it at least a bit easier to educate actors."

The actors don't need to be educated. It's not their job to call out audience members. As much as everyone seems to love when Patti LuPone does it, it really is unprofessional. She should have alerted the stage manager, who would then coordinate with FOH.

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 10/13/22 at 7:59pm

Samantha did nothing wrong. Not at the show, not on twitter.

The "full report" does not maker her complaint any less valid, or her distress any less real. This has been her "worst nightmare" because she knows full well how ignorant people can be and always knew it could happen. Hopefully it won't again.

[pmensky]

Posted: 10/13/22 at 8:02pm

I know Patti stopped the show when she was doing Gypsy, but has she stopped a performance before? I know she snatched someone’s cell phone when she was making an exit during a play she did and yelled at a woman at a talkback because of masks, but I don’t recall her halting another performance.

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 10/13/22 at 8:16pm

Jay Lerner-Z said:

"Samantha did nothing wrong. Not at the show, not on twitter."

She should not have called out Lillias White by name on Instagram over what was clearly a misunderstanding. It served no purpose. All she had to do was say "an actor in Hadestown," and it would have accomplished the same thing, without opening up Lillias to unnecessary and undeserved bashing. 

 

Updated On: 10/13/22 at 08:16 PM

[pmensky]

Posted: 10/13/22 at 8:22pm

TaffyDavenport said: "Jay Lerner-Z said:

"Samantha did nothing wrong. Not at the show, not on twitter."

She should not have called out Lillias White by name on Instagram over what was clearly a misunderstanding. It served no purpose. All she had to do was say "an actor in Hadestown," and it would have accomplished the same thing, without opening up Lillias to unnecessary and undeserved bashing.

Classic victim blaming. Unbelievable and disgusting.

 

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 10/13/22 at 8:27pm

pmensky said: "TaffyDavenport said: "Jay Lerner-Z said:

"Samantha did nothing wrong. Not at the show, not on twitter."

She should not have called out Lillias White by name on Instagram over what was clearly a misunderstanding. It served no purpose. All she had to do was say "an actor in Hadestown," and it would have accomplished the same thing, without opening up Lillias to unnecessary and undeserved bashing.

Classic victim blaming. Unbelievable and disgusting.

"

I'm saying she did something on social media after the fact that she shouldn't have. Her message could have be heard loud and clear without resorting to identifying the actor publicly. In her own words, she said "I was not publicly shamed," yet she VERY publicly shamed Lillias White not long after the show, over an unfortunate misunderstanding. Two wrongs don't make a right, and if that's blaming the victim, so be it.

Updated On: 10/13/22 at 08:27 PM

[gibsons2]

Posted: 10/13/22 at 8:57pm

Lilias should disable comments on her Instagram. Some awful people calling her names including "bitch". This went way too far. It's always people who call for acceptance and inclusivity are the ones who would gladly burn you alive, if God forbid you make an honest mistake. 

Updated On: 10/13/22 at 08:57 PM

[MadsonMelo]

Posted: 10/13/22 at 9:13pm

The comments on Lillia's instagram are awful, it was a mistake and the first statement was clearly different than the second one and people are coming for White for no reason. Really really sad.

[Alexander Lamar]

Posted: 10/13/22 at 9:19pm

It seems like Lillias is not a frequent user of social media so she likely isn’t aware of any of that. I’m not sure how managers work on Broadway, but hopefully there’s someone that can alert and help her with it. 

[ManOfLaMuncha]

Posted: 10/13/22 at 9:21pm

Years ago I took my mom to see "Lenny" with Cliff Gorman.  We always sat in the front row because my mom could only see shadows and lights.  I didn't know this was going to be a part of the show, but when "Lenny" was doing this bit about Lepers...people came out dressed in rags and made up as lepers.  Before I knew what was happening, one jumped off the stage into the empty seat next to mom and grabbed her.  It was a funny bit, but she couldn't see who the hell was grabbing her...so she grabbed me and said HELP lol. The Leper guy looked confused, so I leaned over and whispered "she can't see", he just nodded, played it off and got up and ran backstage or wherever. SH*T happens, and in this case it was unexpected and a bit funny.

[PipingHotPiccolo]

Posted: 10/13/22 at 9:49pm

TaffyDavenport said: "Jay Lerner-Z said:

"Samantha did nothing wrong. Not at the show, not on twitter."

She should not have called out Lillias White by name on Instagram over what was clearly a misunderstanding. It served no purpose. All she had to do was say "an actor in Hadestown," and it would have accomplished the same thing, without opening up Lillias to unnecessary and undeserved bashing."

I have no problem with this person calling out Lillias by name, or mentioning the show, or sharing her experience-- so long as she does it accurately. Her initial post is WILDLY different from her subsequent clarifications, namely she completely walked back the notion that Lillias White stopped the show to humiliate her, called her out, etc. She now admits NONE OF THAT HAPPENED. 

Lots of people seem to be making perfectly valid but totally inapplicable points. It IS unprofessional for Patti LuPone or Lillias White to break character to scold an audience member. That didnt happen. Ushers must take more accountability for policing audience misconduct. But here no usher was ever notified, because the entire thing happened at the top of the show and the actors stay onstage for almost the entire first half, and it seems whatever Lillias did at the top of the show happened and then finished. (Contrary to the initial tweet that suggested multiple yellings and humiliations).

The theater should (and does!) accommodate all people with all sorts of needs and actors should 1000% be aware of those accommodations. If the original tweet had been "Actors seemed to think I was filming, made me uncomfortable, @Hadestown you must do better!" - GREAT. What a learning experience. But Lillias White stopped the show to humiliate me, it was my worst nightmare, oops, I meant she never once broke character or even spoke to me--- yeah quite a big oops.

 

My heart goes out to Lillias who it seems AT WORST made a mistake and shot a dirty look into the audience, but is now being subjected to a public hanging as Enemy of the Deaf. Truly despicable.

 

[Phillyguy]

Posted: 10/13/22 at 9:58pm

PipingHotPiccolo said: "TaffyDavenport said: "Jay Lerner-Z said:

"Samantha did nothing wrong. Not at the show, not on twitter."

She should not have called out Lillias White by name on Instagram over what was clearly a misunderstanding. It served no purpose. All she had to do was say "an actor in Hadestown," and it would have accomplished the same thing, without opening up Lillias to unnecessary and undeserved bashing."

I have no problem with this person calling out Lillias by name, or mentioning the show, or sharing her experience-- so long as she does it accurately. Her initial post is WILDLY different from her subsequent clarifications, namely she completely walked back the notion that Lillias White stopped the show to humiliate her, called her out, etc. She now admits NONE OF THAT HAPPENED.

Lots of people seem to be making perfectly valid but totally inapplicable points. It IS unprofessional for Patti LuPone or Lillias White to break character to scold an audience member. That didnt happen. Ushers must take more accountability for policing audience misconduct. But here no usher was ever notified, because the entire thing happened at the top of the show and the actors stay onstage for almost the entire first half, and it seems whatever Lillias did at the top of the show happened and then finished. (Contrary to the initial tweet that suggested multiple yellings and humiliations).

The theater should (and does!) accommodate all people with all sorts of needs and actors should 1000% be aware of those accommodations. If the original tweet had been "Actors seemed to think I was filming, made me uncomfortable, @Hadestown you must do better!" - GREAT. What a learning experience. But Lillias White stopped the show to humiliate me, it was my worst nightmare, oops, I meant she never once broke character or even spoke to me--- yeah quite a big oops.



My heart goes out to Lillias who it seems AT WORST made a mistake and shot a dirty look into the audience, but is now being subjected to a public hanging as Enemy of the Deaf. Truly despicable.

"

I think we have to realize that someone's perception of what happened may be slightly different than what other people see or notice. Also she is hearing and vision impaired. 

She could very well feel the entire cast or audience was focused on her when this happened, even though nobody paid attention to her. That does not make her feelings any less valid. 

 

 

 

[PipingHotPiccolo]

Posted: 10/13/22 at 10:19pm

I could not be more sympathetic to this woman's experience, and I am very familiar with well-meaning people to just experience events a certain way. But that wasnt her post; she said she was called out mid-show. She wasnt, and she clearly knows she wasn't because she freely explained it later on. 

I wish her well, and my guess is that she exaggerated or was just careless in her initial post and then it exploded. At that point, the cast was easily able to refute her account, which we all agree was simply not accurate, so we got her clarification. And even THATS fine but its too late, people smell outrage, and run with it. Lillias White doesnt deserve this. 

[pmensky]

Posted: 10/13/22 at 10:37pm

I think some of you need to go back to post #1 and click on the link to this woman’s original post and see what she said, because I’m not seeing any of the stuff people here are claiming she said in that video.

[PipingHotPiccolo]

Posted: 10/13/22 at 10:43pm

pmensky said: "I think some of you need to go back to post #1 and click on the link to this woman’s original post and see what she said, because I’m not seeing any of the stuff people here are claiming she said in that video."

This is a very valid distinction; I was referring to her tweet. 

 

Which said:  

"Today, an actor yelled at me multiple times mid-show for recording a Broadway show, even when I wasn’t. I was using a captioning device. My worst nightmare realized."

We now know that patently did not happen. 

[pmensky]

Posted: 10/13/22 at 10:49pm

PipingHotPiccolo said: "pmensky said: "I think some of you need to go back to post #1 and click on the link to this woman’s original post and see what she said, because I’m not seeing any of the stuff people here are claiming she said in that video."

This is a very valid distinction; I was referring to her tweet.



Which said:

"Today, an actor yelled at me multiple times mid-show for recording a Broadway show, even when I wasn’t. I was using a captioning device. My worst nightmare realized."

We now know that patently did not happen."

Are you claiming that because this happened at the beginning of the performance instead of the middle section of the show that she is lying for using the word, “midshow,” because midshow or middle of the show could be interpreted as while the show was happening.

[PipingHotPiccolo]

Posted: 10/13/22 at 11:19pm

It wasnt mid-show. It wasnt multiple times. And she wasnt yelled at. 

The former implies the show was stopped/interrupted. Multiple times = repeated admonishing. Yelling means verbal reprimand. As SHE HERSELF clarified: "The show was not disrupted or interrupted. If I had been recording, I’d say she handled it quickly and concisely. I was not publicly shamed."

She exaggerated, got an enormous online reaction, and then backtracked.