Patti LuPone Weighs in on AT&T- 'What Altered Reality Do You Live In?'

It's the ad that launched a thousand tweets. Earlier this week, AT&T wireless posted an ad on Twitter encouraging people to watch football on their phones while at the theatre. Despite such behavior being rude, disruptive and, in New York City, illegal, AT&T wrote, "Don't let life get between you and football."

One question has been lingering all week: "What does Patti think?" LuPone has made her stance on the use of cell phones in theatres very clear, especially since she snatched a phone from an audience member during SHOWS FOR DAYS earlier this summer. Check out her official statement below:

"I'm in Ireland and have just heard about the incident with the AT&T tweet. Kudos to Marc Kudisch, Ann Harada, Max van Essen, Ruthie Ann Miles, Patti Murin, Andy Mientus, Julia Murney, et al for speaking out concerning AT&T's tweet for our theatre audience to stream live during a performance. Our theatres, ballet and symphony halls are not arenas. They are intimate spaces. We do not have venders selling beer, hot dogs, peanuts and cracker jacks during a performance. We have, for the most part, excellent acoustical houses. Everything can be heard including the tapping of your digits on a phone or the click of a camera. And from the stage do not be fooled. We can see you. It's time we all in the theatre community put an end to the cell phone disruptions. Enforce the law and eject the individual who thinks they are exempt.

To the AT&T spokesperson: What altered reality do you live in? And why do you assume I live there too?

As for AT&T as a communications provider, I dropped them years ago, not because of an arrogant and ignorant spokesperson, but because their service stunk. I made the right decision to go with Verizon.

Drop AT&T

PS I can just hear a Shakespearean aside, "What's the score?"

CLICK HERE to check out responses to the ad from the rest of the theater community.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / WM Photos