**Broadway Luminaries Urge Tony Awards to Revoke Invitation to Patti LuPone Following Controversial Comments**

Broadway performers and theater professionals are rallying together to urge the producers of the Tony Awards to revoke Patti LuPone’s invitation to the upcoming event. This call to action stems from recent inflammatory remarks LuPone made about Audra McDonald and "Hell's Kitchen" star Kecia Lewis during an interview with the New Yorker. The open letter demanding this action has garnered over 500 signatures, including those of Tony winners James Monroe Iglehart, J. Harrison Ghee, and Maleah Joi Moon. Renowned actors like Ephraim Sykes, Wendell Pierce, and Jaquel Spivey, along with Courtney Love, have also signed the letter.

The crux of the controversy dates back to when LuPone was performing in "The Roommate" on Broadway. The theater hosting the play shared a wall with the Alicia Keys musical "Hell's Kitchen," and LuPone complained about noise disturbances to the Shubert Organization. After the issue was resolved, she sent flowers to the "Hell's Kitchen" cast and crew, but Lewis later criticized her actions as "bullying" and "racially microaggressive" on social media—a sentiment McDonald supported by liking the post.

When questioned about these accusations by the New Yorker, LuPone referred to Lewis using derogatory language and dismissed her credentials as a Broadway veteran, despite Lewis's Tony win for "Hell's Kitchen." LuPone also claimed McDonald was "not a friend" and disparaged her performance in "Gypsy." Such remarks have been condemned as degrading, misogynistic, and racially disrespectful by theater professionals.

The open letter highlights that LuPone's comments embody the microaggressions and abuse prevalent in the industry, calling it harassment and bullying. The letter additionally criticizes her attack on McDonald, noting that it undermines the contributions and legacy of one of Broadway's most celebrated performers.

The letter doesn't stop at individual grievances; it also calls out Broadway’s broader failure to hold powerful figures accountable, pointing to other industries as examples of how to respond to misconduct. The NFL and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences are cited for their swift actions in holding individuals accountable for creating toxic environments and public misconduct. The signatories argue that Broadway should not tolerate this behavior and must uphold higher standards.

As the Tony Awards approach on June 8, neither the organizers nor LuPone have issued a statement in response to the open letter. With tensions high, the theater community and fans alike await to see if the Tony Awards will take decisive action in this contentious matter.