Lea Michele is getting candid about claims that she created a toxic work environment on the Glee set. Michele starred in the musical comedy series as Rachel Berry, the fame-obsessed glee club captain who eventually lands her dream role as Fanny Brice in a Broadway revival of Funny Girl. Now, Michele is following in her character’s footsteps and will begin her run as Fanny Tuesday, September 6 at the August Wilson Theatre. She will be replacing Beanie Feldstein, who exited the production earlier than expected following the revival’s negative reception and struggling ticket sales.
In 2020, Michele received significant criticism for a tweet that included the Black Lives Matter hashtag. Samantha Marie Ware, a Black actress who appeared on Glee, responded to Michele’s tweet and alleged that Michele had bullied her on set, threatened to get her fired from the show, and subjected her to various microaggressions. An onslaught of accusations from other co-stars followed, including from Heather Morris, who said that Michele’s attitude was one of “disrespect” and that working with her was “very unpleasant.” The actress has since apologized, but the backlash continued to spawn rumors, including one that Michele can’t read or write.
Ahead of her Funny Girl debut, Michele is again addressing the allegations of her toxic workplace behavior. Sitting down with the New York Times, Michele says she took an “intense time of reflection” after the accusations sparked an intense backlash online. She says this reflective period prepared her to successfully lead a Broadway company and that she “feels more ready than I ever have before, both personally and professionally.” Read what Michele has to say about her process below:
“I really understand the importance and value now of being a leader. It means not only going and doing a good job when the camera’s rolling, but also when it’s not. And that wasn’t always the most important thing for me. I have an edge to me. I work really hard. I leave no room for mistakes. That level of perfectionism, or that pressure of perfectionism, left me with a lot of blind spots.”
Michele’s talent has always been apparent – before Glee, she was one of the original leads in the Tony-winning Broadway musical Spring Awakening. Glee then showcased her to audiences around the world and became a smash hit with Michele front and center for six seasons. Some of the series’ most showstopping moments feature Michele’s Rachel performing songs from Funny Girl, including “Don’t Rain On My Parade,” which became a signature for both Glee and Michele herself. It’s never been a question of whether she can pull this musical off, and yet it’s impressive that she managed to bag the role after receiving the kind of criticism that has ended careers in the past.
The controversy around Michele hasn’t stopped audiences from lining up to watch her follow in Rachel Berry’s footsteps. Before she was announced as Feldstein’s replacement, tickets to Funny Girl struggled to sell despite lower-than-average prices. The day after Michele’s casting was confirmed, not only was the show’s selling problem erased almost immediately, but prices rose to as high as $2,500. If Michele lives up to her potential at next week’s debut – as longtime “Gleeks” know she can – her post-Glee revival may be inevitable.
Source: The New York Times