TIME Blogger attacks Audra for Tony Speech — Page 2

"Last Sunday night, I was overwhelmed with gratitude and love for my parents, who put me on the path that somehow, miraculously led to my standing on that stage, clutching that Tony. I am ashamed to admit that I don’t think I had ever truly thanked them for that before. Unfortunately my father is now deceased, but my mom was there, and I’m so grateful that in the 90 seconds allotted a winner to say thank you — and as the completely addled wreck of an emotional mess that I was at that moment — I was able publicly, from that stage, to look into her tear-filled eyes and acknowledge her struggle and thank her for making that decision. Not for driving me to rehearsals, helping me with my lines or keeping me calm, as you suggest I should have said to her, but for the actual decision she made. That is exactly what I wanted to thank her for, and I did. It was a decision that was very personal and it ended up being the right one for me. It was a moment for and about my parents and their love for me: nothing else and no one else."

Intelligent. Compassionate. Respectful. Unapologetic. Proud. Thoughtful.


Audra McDonald is remarkable.

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Absolutely perfect response from Audra.

So often these days, one of a childs "special needs" is a swift kick in the pants.

Yes, Audra McDonald's response had class. How sad most of those who posted on this thread don't! If it isn't too much trouble, take a lesson from Ms McDonald!

Saint Audra.

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MichelleCraig, that is a lovely story!

I think this blogger just took things far too personally and Audra's response is as gracious, poised, and well-thought as ever. How sad your life must be to try and find something in a Tony speech to use as ammunition- it's a night of celebration and Audra does have the right to thank whoever she chooses and for whatever reason. Just silly.

I am on medication, I do not feel in any shape or form that Audra said that medication is bad or good thing. It was just a simple statement it was not right for her. It is or rather should be done on a case by case basis it should not be generically given. I think the blogger really needs a life really if she listened to the speech it said nothing about the politics of medication or medication in general what an idiot

Thank god for Obamacare!

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But the blogger contradicts herself:

"We’ve tried the theater, sports, music, wearing him out, getting him more sleep, meditation, diet, being super-disciplinarian, being not too disciplinarian, art, bribery and shouting."

So, she DID try alternatives to medication. If that's true, her argument against Audra is invalid.

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Tempest in a teapot.





Good for Audra on her response, but I'm with orangeskittles in thinking that she shouldn't have dignified the blog with a reply.

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Sutton Ross-Why don't you actually try to learn what ADHD & ADD are or can do to a person before opening your mouth about it? Is it the most devastating thing in the world? Absolutely not. But, just saying that it's about meds and everything is fine is false. I know because I have it.

Anyway, I think Audra handled this well. I actually don't have much sympathy for the blogger because it is a ridiculous thing to get mad about. Everyone is different. Some people meds work wonders, while for some, it isn't needed. It really depends on what the issue is.

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Audra always manages to say something stupid in her otherwise eloquent, perfect speeches. Two years ago, she said, "I'm so grateful to be in love with Norm Lewis every night, to get raped by Phillip Boykin every night..."

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"Go talk with the special ed educators/families who deal with these children on a daily basis."

Since I'm one of those people, there is no need. Most kids are diagnosed, and put on medication, at least that's how it works for the at risk youth I work with. It works quite effectively and saves us, the people who work with these children, from pulling our hair out. Educators strongly prefer children who aren't disruptive and can focus at school. Adderall, Metadate ER, and Vyvanse are the most effective, that we've seen, in terms of achieving that goal in children.

ADD/ADHD is not "special needs" though, to say that is irresponsible and wrong.