Broadway diva Patti LuPone recently made headlines for telling an audience member to “get the f-k out” of the theater for not wearing a face mask in accordance with the venue’s COVID-19 policies.
But fans of LuPone know that the actress has a history of public outbursts that are both jaw-dropping and refreshingly blunt. Here are five other times she’s gone off.
2009 – LuPone gets a rogue photographer kicked out of her performance
In 2009, LuPone literally stopped mid-song while performing as Momma Rose in the musical Gypsy to tell an audience member, “Stop taking pictures right now!”
“You heard the announcement,” she yelled. “Who do you think you are?” she continued, to audience applause. She then addressed theater management from the stage, yelling, “Get him out…. How dare you? … I won’t continue if they’re taking pictures.”
She then called for the house lights to be turned on as she pointed out the photographer to security guards. “Three times! Three times you took a picture!” she said to the offender.
After the person was escorted from the theater, she said, “I have to say this: We have forgotten our public manners, and we have forgotten that we are in a community, and this is the theatre, and all of you, every single one of you — except that person — has respect. And I and the rest of this company appreciate it.”
She then resumed her musical number to thunderous applause and cheers.
2015 – LuPone tells a talkative theater member to “shut up”
During LuPone’s solo show at the 54 Below cabaret space in Manhattan, she called out a woman who kept talking even though others had repeatedly shushed the woman to be quiet.
“What? Me?” LuPone finally asked mid-performance. “Okay, I’ll go home.” She then asked the chatty audience member, “What is it, honey? Are you drunk? Are you menopausal?”
When someone said it was the woman’s birthday, LuPone then led the audience in a performance of the “Happy Birthday” song. Afterward, she told the woman,””Happy Birthday. Now shut up.”
2015 – LuPone grabs a texting audience member’s cell phone
While performing in Shows for Days, LuPone saw a woman texting through the play’s entire first act.
“She was oblivious to everybody except her cell phone and her,” LuPone told an ABC News reporter. So, while remaining in character, LuPone walked over to the woman and snatched the phone right out of her hands. An usher eventually returned the phone to the woman during intermission.
“I feel bad for the people who come here to have a theatrical experience and it’s ruined,” LuPone told the reporter.
2017 – LuPone calls Madonna‘s Evita performance a “piece of sh-t”
LuPone, who portrayed Evita Perón in the original 1979 Broadway run of Evita, said that when she saw Madonna’s performance of the musical’s tune “Buenos Aires”, “I thought it was a piece of sh-t.”
Speaking to Andy Cohen on Watch What Happens Live!, she added, “Madonna is a movie killer. She’s dead behind the eyes. She cannot act her way out of a paper bag. She should not be on film or on stage. She is a wonderful performer for what she does but she is not an actress. Bang.”
2017 – LuPone offers the BEST reason yet for refusing to perform for Donald Trump
When Variety reporter Mark Malkin asked LuPone why President Trump should see her performance in War Paint she said, “I hope he doesn’t because I won’t perform if he does.”
The reporter asked, “Really? Tell me why.”
She said, smiling, “Because I hate the motherf-ker. How’s that?”
Jack
My get rich quick scheme is to buy Patti LuPone for what she’s worth and sell her for what she thinks she’s worth. Girl bye.
joeyt1969
She’s a well respected person. Quite obviously, she’s very intelligent and open minded and a friend of the gays. Going back to the intelligent part, I’m guessing this is where you’re lacking greatly.
lykeitiz
Madonna won the Golden Globe for “Evita”, so it’s pretty safe to say she didn’t “kill” that movie like the jealous lady said.
quantum
Somebody hasn’t been following the news over the past several decades over what a joke the Hollywood Foreign Press is. 🙂
lykeitiz
@quantum – Yes I understand the Hollywood Foreign Press is sketchy, to put it mildly. Still, that doesn’t invalidate every award they’ve given over the years. It also doesn’t excuse Ms. Sour Grapes Lapone for denigrating Madonna, when even most of M’s harshest critics gave credit for the vocal training she did in preparation for Evita. Her performance was mostly praised.
joeyt1969
Madonnas singing was very good. Writing was very bad. Actually, every movie the madonnas of made has been pretty bad maybe with the exception of Aveda which was possible at best.
fredk3
Patti is blunt, honest & spot on right. Sings like no one else too.
bsg1967
Madonna is my goddess since 84 but Ms Lupone is right she has nothing behind the eyes, as an actor she has all the presence and range of plywood, which is weird as in her music videos she’s mesmerising. Desperately Seeking Susan was awesome and stll a fave, Laurie Metcalf scene stealer.
cheks
I don’t know. It seems unprofessional to me. If someone is on their phone, sure the audience near by is annoyed. But to stop a performance ruins the show for the entire audience. Most of whom had no idea someone was talking/on the phone/or taking pictures.
But I guess when you’re Patti LuPone you do whatever you want.
carllonghorn
Actually no, not unprofessional – finally speaking up against these self-centered folks who go to plays and have no clue, so they sit on their phone, like they have probably done all day. They are more important than anyone else. And besides, what a great story to remember a play and tell friends about – “I saw Patti LuPone chase down a phone and make a total fool out of some be-outch tonight!”
joeyt1969
You’re a typical enabler. It seems as though you have no idea what the word respect means.
justyouandi
Yes, she’s a very talented performer, but I really don’t like her. Therefore, I don’t enjoy her performances. I can’t separate her crappy personality from her performance. To say she’s a little too full of herself is an understatement. She’s taken “diva” way too far.
nm4047
either a true definition of a diva or maybe someone has far too great an opinion of her own position in life is, she is still just an entertainer.
G R
Patti is without question talented, but she had no business stopping a show for that nonsense. As someone that lives in NYC and has seen Patti out in restaurants within the past few months, WITHOUT a mask, she should really check her attitude. I understand that’s the policy of the theater but the incongruity is laughable.
No mask required ANYWHERE, no more vaccine passport nonsense (according to that as*ho*e Fauci one can still transmit/contract COVID even with the vaccine) masks are even optional on airplanes now, but somehow the air is different in a Broadway house than at Sardi’s across the street, Bloomingdale’s, CVS or any AMC theater?? Either masks work or they don’t, if you’re wearing one and I’m not what’s the problem? If you have on sunblock and I don’t how does that affect you?
Is this really about the efficacy of masks??
Seriously?
And I’m fully vaccinated/boosted so save the comments.
joeyt1969
If a theater’s policy is to wear a mask, then wear a mask. Stop trying to justify the person not wearing one and put it on Patti LuPone. Good for her for stopping the performance she could’ve just gone on.
jt1990
Broadway Karen has really had it out for everyone lately! Patti already claimed “Leftist of the Year” after yelling at the maskless woman while not wearing one herself. Rules for thee but not for me!
Invader7
Good for Patti. I’d call out lame ass-*oles too. They think they’re somehow entitled to ruin everyone else’s enjoyment of a show or whatever. And Patti is way MORE talented than Madonna ever was /is/will be !!! So good for speaking her mind.