LuPone on McDonald — Page 21

So I’m stupid because I don’t agree with you.

Got it.

Well you’re wasting your breath and time.

“Nuance” is not the same thing as grasping at straws to connect a bitchy remark to someone’s race.

Don’t you think your energy might be better spent actually participating in some kind of activism?

I am sure you’ll respond but I am done trying to level with you so have fun talking to no one.

Updated On: 5/29/25 at 04:36 PM

Once again… how can you not see how this is ironically disempowering??? One is*handing*Patti LuPone power by demanding respect and apology. I’m not trying to dissuade anyone from wanting or feeling deserving of apology or understanding - but she does not actually have the power to discredit or devalue anyone. The real powerful move here is to just be resilient and keep being excellent. To recognizethatAudra & Kecia’s belief in their own unshakable excellence along withthe support of countless people who validate their excellence is enough. This whole thing being “made right” should not be contingent on Patti LuPone apologizing or “not getting away with” something. I honestly don’t even totally know what you mean by “getting away with it.” She is being called out by so many people who are in support of Audra McDonald and Kecia Lewis. Evidently, Audra McDonald and Kecia Lewis have faith in their excellence. Demanding or requiring respect, apology, or punishment conveys aneedthat is disempowering. Of course it would be awesome if Patti showed some remorse. Makes sense to want it. But this need.. this demand… I just don’t know.

Ensemble1698878795: We don't need her power or stamp of approval. We need her to keep Black legends out her mouth and if she can't she will get the backlash she's getting. I love how people blame the folks defending these Black womenfor having an opinion. WE DIDN'T START THIS. PATTI DID.

Look at what you are saying. I'm not trying to be disrespectful or combative here, I'm trying to point out something really important. "We need her to keep black legends out of her mouth." Whether it's a stamp of approval, an apology, or what you are saying "to keep people out of her mouth" - all of those things fall into the category of things that, at the end of the day, you can understandably want but you cannot control! To need something you cannot control is disempowering. That is the whole point. Also "and if she can't she will get the backlash she's getting" - - right... exactly... she is getting the backlash. You are correct. So.... I'm not understanding the need when 1) Audra and Kecia Lewis have faith in their excellence 2) Tons of supporters are validating this and have their backs 3) Patti Lupone's words are being decried. What more can you control???? To need or to demand something you can't ultimately control is to perpetuate a belief in a disempowering sort of helplessness. We are talking about two very talented, empowered women who are also well supported by many people who have their backs right now (who I am not at all blaming for their defending!).

Updated On: 5/29/25 at 04:53 PM

Midnight Radio said: "Here we go again, let's please identify her "racist tendencies." If your entire argument is she treats black people the same way she treats everyone else, the one failing to think critically or with nuance is you."

So she can treat anyone like trash and still have a fruitful career? That's WHITE PRIVILEGE my dear. You fail to admit it, but Black women are Black balled for such behavior. Patti is applauded. But no more.

MB124 said: "So I’m stupid because I don’t agree with you.

Got it.

Well you’re wasting your breath and time.

“Nuance” is not the same thing as grasping at straws to connect a bitchy remark to someone’s race.

Don’t you think your energy might be better spent actually participating in some kind of activism?

I am sure you’ll respond but I am done trying to level with you so have fun talking to no one."

Activism is dismantling these threads of white people who want performances from Black legends, but won't defend them when a whole group of people tell you they're being disrespected. I know exactly where I am. Wouldn't your energy be better fit listening and shutting up to learn?

Annnnnnnnnnyway……

I am pleased to report that the evil witch who cast a “powerful spell” on me in post 78 has a broken wand. It didn’t work. :)

I love that the first reply in this thread is asking if this needed its own thread and here we are 500+ replies later and with this turning into a big story....

Midnight Radio said: ""White Privilege is an act of racism."

This may be a new low for the idiocy being bandied about this thread. White Privilege is not an act of racism, White Privilege is not even an act at all.

You don't like her behavior, just say that. I dare say most may agree with you. But to reduce everything to racism merely based on a person's appearance is reductive and in fact destructive to the cause. You water down these words to the point where they barely have meaning at all, and that is the actual danger."

You simply are an idiot and people like you are why America is the way it is. You CANNOT read. I have not reduced everything to racism. But your comprehension skills obviously are watered down.

Ensemble1698878795 said: "You simply are an idiot and people like you are why America is the way it is. You CANNOT read. I have not reduced everything to racism. But your comprehension skills obviously are watered down."



Google "Is white privilege an act of racism?" and come back to us.

Updated On: 5/29/25 at 06:00 PM

Ensemble1698878795 said: "Mickey3309 said: "Once again… how can you not see how this is ironically disempowering??? One is*handing*Patti LuPone power by demanding respect and apology. I’m not trying to dissuade anyone from wanting or feeling deserving of apology or understanding - but she does not actually have the power to discredit or devalue anyone. The real powerful move here is to just be resilient and keep being excellent. To recognizethatAudra & Kecia’s belief in their own unshakable excellence along withthe support of countless people who validate their excellence is enough. This whole thing being “made right” should not be contingent on Patti LuPone apologizing or “not getting away with” something. I honestly don’t even totally know what you mean by “getting away with it.” She is being called out by so many people who are in support of Audra McDonald and Kecia Lewis. Evidently, Audra McDonald and Kecia Lewis have faith in their excellence. Demanding or requiring respect, apology, or punishment conveys aneedthat is disempowering. Of course it would be awesome if Patti showed some remorse. Makes sense to want it. But this need.. this demand… I just don’t know.

Ensemble1698878795:We don't need her power or stamp of approval. We need her to keep Black legends out her mouth and if she can't she will get the backlash she's getting. I love how people blame the folks defending these Black womenfor having an opinion. WE DIDN'T START THIS. PATTI DID.

Look at what you are saying. I'm not trying to be disrespectful or combative here, I'm trying to point out something really important. "We need her to keep black legends out of her mouth." Whether it's a stamp of approval, an apology, or what you are saying "to keep people out of her mouth" - all of those things fall into the category of things that, at the end of the day, you can understandably want but you cannot control!To needsomething you cannot control is disempowering. That is the whole point. Also "and if she can't she will get the backlash she's getting" - - right... exactly... she is getting the backlash. You are correct. So.... I'm not understanding the need when 1) Audra and Kecia Lewis have faith in their excellence 2) Tons of supporters are validating this and have their backs 3) Patti Lupone's words are being decried. What more can you control???? To need or to demand is to perpetuate a belief in a disempowering sort of helplessness. We are talking about two very talented, empowered, well-supported women who also have many people who have their backs (who I am not blaming for their defending at all).
"

Thank you for conversing with intelligence and empathy. There is an industry wide legacy issue around how POCare regarded in theater. We don't have many legends that have been acknowledged, so when a white woman opens her jaw in the way she did it is a cultural response to defend these woman at all cost. To the everyday white theater goer Patti's actions are just her being entitled and comical. To a group of people that don't have a long list of Black regarded legends it's highly disrespectful and hurtful. It's the constant diminishing of the worth of these women that's upsetting. The is issue typically white people, like many on this board, sit silent in these instances and for US it's an attack on the whole. I don't know how else to explain it."

Gotcha. Gotcha. I guess then all I can say is that I hope that for anyone (yourself included) feeling hurt by this that there is sufficient solace and empowerment in the artists' dignity and belief in their own excellence, the widespread support and validation they receive (understanding that universal validation is a holy-grail, chasing-the-horizon quest), and the reality that many are denouncing what has been said. I don't mean to invalidate a want for more - you feel what you feel - but at some point, needs and demands start to insidiously stoke feelings of helplessness and perpetuate a cycle of disempowerment in the name of empowerment.

Midnight Radio said: "Ensemble1698878795 said: "You simply are an idiot and people like you are why America is the way it is. You CANNOT read. I have not reduced everything to racism. But your comprehension skills obviously are watered down."



Google "Is white privilege anact of racism?" and come back to us.

"

Darling, you're a faceless name on a BWW thread. Your evaluation of my stance is as irrelevant as Patti LuPone's performance in The Roommate was to the Tony nominations. Google that and STFU.

Mickey3309 said: "Ensemble1698878795 said: "Mickey3309 said: "Once again… how can you not see how this is ironically disempowering??? One is*handing*Patti LuPone power by demanding respect and apology. I’m not trying to dissuade anyone from wanting or feeling deserving of apology or understanding - but she does not actually have the power to discredit or devalue anyone. The real powerful move here is to just be resilient and keep being excellent. To recognizethatAudra & Kecia’s belief in their own unshakable excellence along withthe support of countless people who validate their excellence is enough. This whole thing being “made right” should not be contingent on Patti LuPone apologizing or “not getting away with” something. I honestly don’t even totally know what you mean by “getting away with it.” She is being called out by so many people who are in support of Audra McDonald and Kecia Lewis. Evidently, Audra McDonald and Kecia Lewis have faith in their excellence. Demanding or requiring respect, apology, or punishment conveys aneedthat is disempowering. Of course it would be awesome if Patti showed some remorse. Makes sense to want it. But this need.. this demand… I just don’t know.

Ensemble1698878795:We don't need her power or stamp of approval. We need her to keep Black legends out her mouth and if she can't she will get the backlash she's getting. I love how people blame the folks defending these Black womenfor having an opinion. WE DIDN'T START THIS. PATTI DID.

Look at what you are saying. I'm not trying to be disrespectful or combative here, I'm trying to point out something really important. "We need her to keep black legends out of her mouth." Whether it's a stamp of approval, an apology, or what you are saying "to keep people out of her mouth" - all of those things fall into the category of things that, at the end of the day, you can understandably want but you cannot control!To needsomething you cannot control is disempowering. That is the whole point. Also "and if she can't she will get the backlash she's getting" - - right... exactly... she is getting the backlash. You are correct. So.... I'm not understanding the need when 1) Audra and Kecia Lewis have faith in their excellence 2) Tons of supporters are validating this and have their backs 3) Patti Lupone's words are being decried. What more can you control???? To need or to demand is to perpetuate a belief in a disempowering sort of helplessness. We are talking about two very talented, empowered, well-supported women who also have many people who have their backs (who I am not blaming for their defending at all).
"

Thank you for conversing with intelligence and empathy. There is an industry wide legacy issue around how POCare regarded in theater. We don't have many legends that have been acknowledged, so when a white woman opens her jaw in the way she did it is a cultural response to defend these woman at all cost. To the everyday white theater goer Patti's actions are just her being entitled and comical. To a group of people that don't have a long list of Black regarded legends it's highly disrespectful and hurtful. It's the constant diminishing of the worth of these women that's upsetting. The is issue typically white people, like many on this board, sit silent in these instances and for US it's an attack on the whole. I don't know how else to explain it."

Gotcha. Gotcha. I guess then all I can say is that I hope that for anyone (yourself included) feeling hurt by this that there is sufficient solace and empowerment in the artists' dignity and belief in their own excellence, the widespread support and validation they receive(understanding that universal validation is a holy-grail, chasing-the-horizon quest), and the reality that many aredenouncing what has been said. I don't mean to invalidate a want for more - you feel what you feel -but at some point, needs and demands start to insidiously stoke feelings of helplessness and perpetuate a cycle of disempowerment in the name of empowerment."

I'm not asking for Patti to glorify Black excellence. I'm requesting that she keeps her comments to herself. If she has a right to spew, we have a right to defend and I don't understand why everyone thinks we aren't allowed.