Lea Michele Breaks Silence On Bullying Allegations & Claim She Can’t Read

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Leah Michele just days away from the stage at the August Wilson Theatre, to liven up what some say she was born to play: Fanny Brice in Broadway’s Funny girl revival. But before stepping into the limelight, the star took a step to clear the air by responding to a wave of online criticism directed at her over the past few years from her co-stars and fans. The multi-global star was candid in a new interview with The New York Times on September 1, revealing accusations of being a bully on set Glee caused an “intense period of reflection” about her workplace behavior.

“I really understand the importance and value of being a leader today,” explains Lea. “It doesn’t just mean going and doing a good job when the camera is on, but also when it’s not. And that’s not always the most important thing to me. “

While she didn’t specifically mention it, it appears Lea is talking about her time as the lead on Fox’s hit show, Glee. In 2020, Lea’s Glee driver Samantha Ware claimed Lea was a bully during their time together in the musical; soon after, other Glee alums such as Heather Morris appeared to support Samantha’s accusations. Lea apologized at the time, and she now admits that the “pursuit of perfectionism” in her work can be harsh, leading to “blind spots” in the production process. “I have an advantage over me. I work really hard. I have no room for mistakes,” Lea explains. “That level of perfectionism, or that pressure of perfectionism, has left me with a lot of blind spots.”

However, online vitriol is more than just accusations from former colleagues. A strange rumor about Lea’s illiteracy has spread rapidly on social media in recent years. While Lea insists she’s afraid reacting to the rumors will only add fuel to the fire, the actress wants to address the outrageous request frankly. “I go to ‘Glee’ every day; I know my lines every day,” she told the outlet. “And then there was a rumor on the internet that I couldn’t read or write? So sad. It really is like that. I often think if I were a man, a lot of things wouldn’t happen.”

With all the behind-the-scenes drama going on, there’s still the question of Lea’s upcoming performance and the possible acclaim (after all, Lea’s idol Barbra Streisand won an Oscar in the film adaptation). It doesn’t seem like Lea is too worried about the prospect of being nominated for a Tony, as she says she’s “not interested in that at this point,” adding that it’s “just about being able to do the part.” .”

About Fanny Brice in Funny girl – a role that was once brilliant – Lea couldn’t help but be ecstatic about it. In July, she shared a sweet moment of herself standing in front of a performance at the August Wilson Theater in New York City. Lea captioned the photo, “A dream come true.”