Broadway icon Audra McDonald is talking out after a terrifying run-in with an autograph seeker who crossed severe boundaries and left her shaken.
The six-time Tony Award winner took to Instagram over the weekend to element the disturbing incident, which occurred Friday night time as she wrapped up her newest flip in Gypsy on the Majestic Theatre.
Audra McDonald defined she’s been avoiding the stage door throughout this run, a typical place the place followers watch for signatures, with a view to defend her well being and preserve her power. However one decided fan wasn’t prepared to take no for a solution.
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Audra McDonald Points PSA To Followers After Disturbing Autograph Incident
“Somebody … snuck round and located me the best way I had exited from the theater … and adopted me all the best way to the place I used to be staying, got here into the constructing, and was uncomfortably shut,” McDonald revealed. The stage legend admitted the scenario rattled her a lot that she feared for her security earlier than lastly getting safety concerned.
When confronted, the autograph seeker allegedly tried to justify their habits by saying that they had traveled a great distance simply to see her carry out, and subsequently “deserved” her signature. McDonald wasn’t having it.
“That’s crossing an enormous boundary … that’s now messing with my security, and it’s not proper,” she stated.
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McDonald Reminds Followers Security Comes First
The 2-time Grammy winner known as out the entitled habits and issued a agency PSA to followers. Respect performers’ area.
“While you see an actor depart the stage door, in the event that they don’t cease, depart it alone. There’s a purpose that they’re not stopping, and it has nothing to do with you,” she informed her 295,000 followers. “It’s them defending their area and peace, no matter that could be.”
Nonetheless, McDonald made clear that she appreciates her followers deeply, however security comes first. “If the performers do cease, a wave, or take an image with you or signal an autograph, nice, however please respect the correct boundaries.”
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Broadway Stars Rally Behind Audra McDonald After Scary Autograph Incident
McDonald’s submit additionally sparked a wave of help from pals and fellow performers who understood precisely what she was going via. Tony Award-winning actress and singer Kecia Lewis chimed in with a robust message, reminding followers simply how a lot power Broadway stars give night time after night time.
“As I walked previous your theater final night time I bumped into a school girlfriend who had simply seen your present. As we had been standing and chatting two gents requested my pal and I in case you had come out. I informed them that you just in all probability wouldn’t for a few the explanations you’ve acknowledged right here. They had been disillusioned, however expressed their understanding,” Lewis shared.
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She continued with a pointy rebuke for entitled followers, “I hope individuals watch it and perceive that after 2.5 hours of stage time, and an hour or extra of prep earlier than performing, and giving 200% of your complete physique, soul and spirit to an viewers, to then really feel that you just DESERVE extra, is the satan’s work.”
Actress Yvette Nicole Brown additionally weighed in with concern, writing, “I now need you to have a safety particular person with you always as a result of that is CRAZY.”
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McDonald Takes Emotional Dive Into ‘Gypsy’
Whereas McDonald has been candid in regards to the challenges of fame and fan interactions, she continues to thrive onstage, just lately incomes her record-breaking eleventh Tony Award nomination for her portrayal of Mama Rose within the Broadway revival of “Gypsy.”
The six-time Tony winner, who already shares the report for many wins ever with legends Angela Lansbury and Julie Harris, stated entering into the function of Rose has been one of the emotionally demanding experiences of her profession.
“I had huge emotions. I had music in my coronary heart. And so as soon as I discovered theater, it was like I’ve a spot to place my huge emotions now,” McDonald informed “CBS Mornings.”
She first examined the function at Carnegie Corridor in 2022, performing the present’s powerhouse quantity “Rose’s Flip.” On the time, she was getting ready to ship her daughter off to varsity, a second that introduced her personal feelings to the floor.
“I burst into tears and I noticed it’s as a result of my child’s leaving and I’m unhappy. So then that was my first type, like, emotional dive into Rose,” she recalled.
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Audra McDonald Breaks Obstacles
McDonald can be breaking obstacles as the primary Black lady to painting Mama Rose on Broadway. Guided by director George C. Wolfe, she leaned into Rose’s obsession along with her youngsters turning into stars, not simply as ambition, however as survival in a harmful period.
“You bought star cash, perhaps you received’t be lynched,” McDonald defined of her character’s mindset within the Nineteen Twenties and 30s. Behind the scenes, McDonald’s self-discipline and craft shine simply as a lot. She joked about being “of a sure age” alongside co-star Danny Burstein, admitting they not dash upstairs after exhibits.
As an alternative, she fastidiously warms up with vocal workouts, together with buzzing, to maintain her voice sturdy for the grueling eight-show-a-week schedule.
For McDonald, it’s not simply one other function. It’s one other probability to push boundaries, discover new emotional depths, and reaffirm why she stays certainly one of Broadway’s biggest residing legends.
