La LuPone gives her unvarnished opinion of Donald Trump

[lovebwy]

You GO, Patti!!
 

[ljay889]

I loved this!!!

[SNAFU]

She really must stop repressing her feelings. It will make her ill.

 

[Call_me_jorge]

This got me excited for tony award night. The amount of times he will be mentioned will be astronomical and I'm ready. Ugh, just thinking about Ben's speech and how much I'll cry. 

[mamaleh]

I may be in the minority but I am sick to death of politics permeating everything on the cultural landscape.  I would be very happy if the Tonys stuck to all things theater and NOTHING about people's opinions as whom they designate the good guys and the bad guys. Enough already.

[dramamama611]

^ It's never enough, until the problem is gone.

 

But yes, it would be wonderful to have a politic-free, theatrical night.

[yankeefan7]

"I may be in the minority but I am sick to death of politics permeating everything on the cultural landscape.  I would be very happy if the Tonys stuck to all things theater and NOTHING about people's opinions as whom they designate the good guys and the bad guys. Enough already."

I agree with you, very tired of it. There are plenty of media outlets where I can listen to or read Trump bashing and I would rather hear the winners talk about their show. The other award shows this year have already said everything nasty you can say about Trump so do we really need anymore on the night we are celebrating the year in theater.

 

[muscle23ftl]

I never thought I'd agree with her on anything, but I was wrong. 

[Mildred Plotka]

I understand wanting to seek events like the Tony Awards for a distraction from the mess we're in.  But if we stay silent, it's all going to continue to get worse.  Using a platform like an acceptance speech to voice your anger and frustration is a rare opportunity. Saying nothing is far more deadly. Since threats have been made against the arts by this administration, it would be irresponsible to stay silent.

[Luscious]

If you have a platform, USE IT! Now more than ever!

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

[BroadwayRox3588]

Bette Midler will almost certainly say something, if her Twitter is any indication.

[@z5]

So true, mamaleh, ridiculously ill al this political bashing....just stick to what the night, and your performance is about. Be an ENTERTAINER! So ridiculous and childish already the way these people act nonstop.

[Luscious]

@z5 said: "So true, mamaleh, ridiculously ill al this political bashing....just stick to what the night, and your performance is about. Be an ENTERTAINER! So ridiculous and childish already the way these people act nonstop."

What a stupid comment. As if an ENTERTAINER isn't allowed to be anything else. They're citizens of the world first and foremost. Their political opinions matter just as much as anyone else's. Especially when funding to arts - their passion and occupation - is at stake!

[wonderfulwizard11]

Patti is an American citizen and she, like any other entertainer, can speak her mind as she pleases. Doing so doesn't make her childish or ridiculous. 

And as a side note, Trump's proposed budget wanted to gut the NEA, which I'm sure has made some of Patti's work possible- I imagine that's true for most actors in the theatre. He wants to threaten her livelihood, so why shouldn't she speak out? Good for her. 

[adamgreer]

This administration has pledged to cut funding for the very institution that the awards will honor. Why the hell should the winners be quiet about that??

[ColorTheHours048]

I have no time or patience for anyone with the mentality that entertainers should "stick to what they do," entertain us, and keep their mouths shut on politics. How complacent are you?

Any respected member of the arts community (like LuPone) should use the platform the majority of the country is not afforded to express their anger if they see fit. This is not a time for silence. Ever.

Again, no patience for anything to the contrary.

[BroadwayRox3588]

Part of the beauty of being an American is being able to speak your opinion, regardless of your occupation. Patti was asked for her opinion, and she gave it. Not childish at all, just an exercise of her rights. Just like anyone who may speak out at the Tony Awards.

[Broadway Joe]

Anyone watching the Tonys isn't going to change their mind if they hear a different opinion than they already have. This whole thing will be more like preaching to the choir than anything else if it happens nonstop and it won't change a thing. 

[Mildred Plotka]

In this digital age, many awards show speeches go viral and reach an audience days after that normally wouldn't watch said program.

[gypsy101]

i've literally said basically all those words about the situation word for word, i agree with OP: GO PATTI

[EvanK]

The full interview is outstanding! Also, who said she could retire after this? No no. 

[icecreambenjamin]

If you don't speak out against the injustices happening in this world, you are part of the problem.  Anyone with any sort of voice right now should stand loud and proud.  Thank you Patti for always saying what you truly think.  Some may say that, that makes someone a bitch, but I think it makes them sincere.

We currently have a president who based his whole compaign on xenophobia, racism, and hate.  He is a fascist leader who has proven himself time and time again to be completely unqualified for this position.  I would be surprised to see him last four years without getting impeached with all this bull**** that he's pulling.  Hell, I'd be surprised to see him last longer than two years.  I get the impression that they're just letting the evidence pile up so that they can see how many greasy cowards they can take down with him.  Good God, our country is such a **** show.

[lovebwy]

I instinctively snapped a Z when I saw this. haha

.

[Dane F]

Honestly, to the people who say things like "HUR DUR, ENTERTAINERS SHOULD JUST KEEP THEIR MOUTHS SHUT AND ENTERTAIN INSTEAD OF WAXING POLITICS!", just be honest and say what you really mean:

"ENTERTAINERS SHOULDN'T SAY MEAN THINGS ABOUT TRUMP!"

I wonder, if the roles were reversed, and entertainers spoke out about Hillary, would these same people stick to their guns, or would they go "GOOD FOR THAT ENTERTAINER FOR HAVING THE COURAGE TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST HILLARY! WE NEED MORE BRAVE ENTERTAINERS!"

[lovebwy]

Mamaleh is a Trump supporter.