Posted on by Randy Slovacek

Patti LuPone Goes Viral Calling Out Anti-Masker & Twitter Is LIVING For It

Broadway diva Patti LuPone won Twitter today as video of her calling out an anti-masker during a Q&A after a performance of COMPANY on Broadway went viral.
Patti LuPone (with the mic) calls out anti-masker at COMPANY

Broadway diva Patti LuPone won Twitter today as video of an exchange between the star and a woman in the audience at COMPANY on Broadway went viral.

The incident reportedly occurred after the evening’s performance as LuPone and the rest of her cast took part in a post-show Q&A hosted and filmed by the American Theater Wing.

During the Q&A, LuPone called out an audience member who apparently wasn’t wearing a face mask properly. Currently, the Broadway League’s COVID-19 safety protocols require all audience members to wear a mask inside theaters.

“Put your mask on over your nose, that is the rule,” LuPone says in the viral video clip. “That’s why you are in the theater, that is the rule. If you don’t want to follow the rule, get the fuck out!”

“I’m serious,” continued the two-time Tony Award winner. “Who do you think you are, if you do not respect the people that are sitting around you?”

After the woman in the audience told LuPone “I pay your salary,” LuPone responded: “You pay my salary? Bullshit. Chris Harper pays my salary,” referring to the producer of COMPANY.

Putting a button on it all, LuPone repeated, “Who do you think you are? Just put your mask over your nose.”

Hysterically, the Twitter account for the show has already changed its bio line to read, “Chris Harper pays my salary.”

Patti LuPone Goes Viral Calling Out Anti-Masker & Twitter Is LIVING For It

It’s important to note that COMPANY, and many other Broadway productions, have had to cancel performances due to COVID-19 over the past several months. LuPone clearly doesn’t want to see her show cancel anymore performances.

LuPone received a Tony nomination on Monday (her 8th) for Best Featured Actress in a Musical  for her performance in COMPANY. She’s won twice – for her star-making performance in the title role of Evita in 1980, and for her performance in the 2008 revival of Gypsy.

LuPone famously does not tolerate bad theatre etiquette.

In January 2009, just days before the closing of Gypsy, she stopped in the middle of “Rose’s Turn” and loudly demanded that an audience member attempting to record her performance be removed from the theater. After he was removed, LuPone restarted her number. The audience applauded her stance.