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Patti LuPone did not attend the 78th Annual Tony Awards on June 8, 2025, at Radio City Music Hall. Her absence came after backlash over comments about Kecia Lewis and Audra McDonald, followed by LuPone’s public apology. But contemporaneous reporting did not establish why she stayed away or whether she had planned to attend. There is no verified basis to call it a boycott or say she was barred.
What happened at the 2025 Tony Awards?
The ceremony took place at Radio City Music Hall on June 8, 2025. The American Theatre Wing identified it as the 78th Annual Tony Awards; reporting after the event confirmed LuPone was absent. Before the ceremony, her representatives had not answered whether she would attend, and post-event coverage said her original plans were unclear. The Tony Awards’ official site establishes the ceremony context; The Daily Beast’s June 9 report confirms her absence.
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Why was Patti LuPone’s absence linked to controversy?
The earlier sound dispute
In 2024, LuPone performed in The Roommate, next to the musical Hell’s Kitchen. She asked for sound from the musical to be addressed because it was bleeding through the theater walls. Vanity Fair reported that the sound cues were adjusted and LuPone sent flowers to thank the other production.
Comments about Kecia Lewis and Audra McDonald
Kecia Lewis, a Hell’s Kitchen actor, later posted a video criticizing how LuPone had handled the complaint. Lewis called it bullying and racially microaggressive, arguing that describing a predominantly Black show as loud was dismissive. In a May 26, 2025 interview with The New Yorker, LuPone made disparaging comments about Lewis and said McDonald was “not a friend.” The interview drew strong backlash, according to the Los Angeles Times and Vanity Fair.
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Was LuPone banned from the Tonys?
No formal ban is established by the available reporting. On May 30, more than 500 Broadway artists signed an open letter to the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League asking them to discourage artists who disparage colleagues from attending industry events, including the Tony Awards. That was a request to the organizations, not evidence that they barred LuPone or excluded her from the ceremony.
What did Patti LuPone say in her apology?
In an Instagram statement on May 31, LuPone apologized and accepted responsibility. As quoted by the Los Angeles Times, she wrote: “I am deeply sorry for the words I used during The New Yorker interview, particularly about Kecia Lewis, which were demeaning and disrespectful.” She also said: “I made a mistake, and I take full responsibility for it, and I am committed to making this right.” She said she hoped to speak personally with Lewis and McDonald; that expressed hope does not confirm a meeting or reconciliation. Vanity Fair noted that the apology did not specifically apologize to McDonald for the comments about her.
How did Audra McDonald respond?
McDonald told Gayle King in a CBS Mornings interview clip, quoted by the Los Angeles Times: “If there’s a rift between us, I don’t know what it is.” The remark reflected McDonald’s response; it does not establish that the two had resolved the matter privately.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is confirmed—and what remains unknown?
- Confirmed: LuPone was absent from the June 8, 2025 ceremony.
- Confirmed: The absence came amid public controversy over her interview comments and after her May 31 apology.
- Not established: Whether she had planned to attend before the controversy, why she did not attend, or whether organizers took action to exclude her.
The careful description is that LuPone was absent amid controversy. The evidence does not establish that she boycotted or was banned from the Tonys.
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