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Lea Michele Finally Addresses Backlash From Her Glee Costars
"They are a part of the patchwork of my life."
More than two years after her costars called her out for inappropriate behavior on the set of the hit FOX TV show Glee, Lea Michelle has finally addressed the allegations in a new interview.
"I think these past two years have been so important for everybody to just sit back and reflect," Michele told Slave Play writer Jeremy O. Harris for Interview Magazine. "I did a lot of personal reach-outs. But the most important thing was for everybody to just take a step back. More than anything, I’m so grateful to have this opportunity to apply the things that I’ve learned over the past ten-plus years in a positive way."
At the time, Samantha Ware shared details of Michele's on-set behavior on Twitter. "I believe you told everyone that if you had the opportunity you would 'sh-t in my wig!'" she wrote, "amongst other traumatic microaggressions that made me question a career in Hollywood." Heather Morris added, "Was she unpleasant to work with? Very much so; for Lea to treat others with the disrespect that she did for as long as she did, I believe she SHOULD be called out."
Michele acknowledges those words now. "At the end of the day, what matters the most is how you make people feel. And you have to put aside your feelings. The conversations that I’ve had behind the scenes with some people were incredibly healing and very eye-opening for me. I’ve been doing this for a really long time and I’m not going to ever blame anything on the things that I’ve been through in my life."
The Funny Girl star now maintains that she wants to focus on moving forward. And even though she can't ignore her previous experiences, or deny them, "They are a part of the patchwork of my life. When I got the call that I was going to play Fanny Brice [in “Funny Girl” on Broadway], I said, “Okay, this could be really big for my career, but it’s also helpful to have this opportunity to introduce people to who I am now.”
Michele's return to Broadway has been a massive success, revitalizing the show and even landing her front and center at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. A ridiculous rumor that she can't read is also a recurring pop culture meme that doesn't seem to be going away any time soon.
Taylor Henderson is a PRIDE.com contributor. This proud Texas Bama studied Media Production/Studies and Sociology at The University of Texas at Austin, where he developed his passions for pop culture, writing, and videography. He's absolutely obsessed with Beyoncé, mangoes, and cheesy YA novels that allow him to vicariously experience the teen years he spent in the closet. He's also writing one!
Taylor Henderson is a PRIDE.com contributor. This proud Texas Bama studied Media Production/Studies and Sociology at The University of Texas at Austin, where he developed his passions for pop culture, writing, and videography. He's absolutely obsessed with Beyoncé, mangoes, and cheesy YA novels that allow him to vicariously experience the teen years he spent in the closet. He's also writing one!
