Audra McDonald Details Fan Following Her Home After Broadway Show

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Not everything is coming up roses for Audra McDonald.

Six-time Tony Award winner shared a public service announcement on social platforms, expressing her feelings following an uncomfortable interaction with a spectator after performing the role of Mama Rose in Gypsy on Broadway.

In a recent Instagram post on August 17th, I shared how, mysteriously, someone managed to track me down after my theatre performance – whether they waited at the stage door or not remains uncertain. This determined fan, however, didn’t let up; they persisted in following me right to where I was staying and even made their way into the building, disturbingly close to me.

She went on saying, “After I received assistance, their reaction was, ‘Lo and behold, here I am!’ Then they mentioned a place they had traveled from. They wanted a signature and believed they were entitled to one.

Some performers may choose to meet fans at the exit of New York City theaters and sign their Playbills following performances, but a 55-year-old artist typically prefers to abstain from this activity to prioritize her health and protect her voice, which is crucial for delivering eight shows a week.

Regardless, Audra emphasized that the incident “was clearly overstepping a significant line.” She felt compelled to point out that such behavior is “definitely not acceptable.” This action, she added, was jeopardizing her safety and was “completely wrong.

Audra, who is a mom to Zoe (age 24) and Sally (age 8), frequently rushes home after work to dedicate some quality time with her youngest child. Her past partner is Peter Donovan, while her current husband is Will Swenson.

If an actor exits through the stage door without pausing, give them some space,” she requested gently. “They might have personal reasons for not stopping, and it’s got nothing to do with you. They’re simply safeguarding their privacy and tranquility.

TopMob News has reached out to Audra’s reps for comment but has not heard back.

For the former Annie cast member, this unsettling incident wasn’t a unique occurrence when it came to dealing with drama within the Majestic Theatre. In fact, she had previously experienced a lingering conflict with Patti LuPone way back in November.

During her performance in the play “The Roommate” alongside Mia Farrow, Patti found herself entangled in an online dispute with another Broadway actress, Kecia Lewis. The conflict erupted after Lewis voiced concerns about the disturbance caused by a nearby show titled “Hell’s Kitchen“.

Kecia stated on Instagram, in response to Patti’s remarks, that labeling a predominantly Black Broadway production as “loud” may unwittingly perpetuate harmful stereotypes. Moreover, it seems to disregard the talent and expressions that are being applauded onstage.

In an interview with The New Yorker six months later, Patti dismissed Kecia’s remarks by saying she “has no idea what she’s referring to.” However, she also criticized Audra for showing support under Kecia’s video, stating that “she should be aware of the situation.

Though, if you ask Audra, she’s also not an enemy.

During an interview on CBS Mornings with Gayle King, she expressed, “I’m not aware of any issues causing a divide between us. If there is, you might want to ask Patti about it. It’s been about 11 years since I’ve seen her due to our busy schedules and life circumstances.

For more celebrity feuds, keep reading…

In January 2024, Bobby (shown to the far left) clarified speculations about a potential disagreement with Tan (in the middle), which emerged two months following his departure from the long-running show “Queer Eye” after eight successful seasons.

He assured Vanity Fair, “Tan and I are alright, despite the recent situation. This issue is private between us and unrelated to the show. It’s important to note that there was no romantic involvement involved.

In March 2024, Tan addressed rumors that he attempted to get his friend Jeremiah Brent instead of Bobby on the show “Queer Eye.

As a devoted fan, I want to clarify that while Netflix and the production companies conducted a thorough casting process, I didn’t propose my friend as a candidate for the role. They were ultimately chosen because they were undeniably the most suitable person for the job. However, I didn’t play any part in their hiring by eliminating someone else from contention.

As a lifestyle expert looking back on television history, I can’t help but reflect on the intriguing tale of the Charmed set, as shared by Holly Marie Combs during her podcast episode in December 2023. She claimed that an ultimatum was made by Alyssa, my fellow cast member at the time, to a show producer: either her or Shannen. This choice ultimately led to Shannen’s departure from the show in 2001, contributing to the rumors of tension between us two actresses. It’s fascinating to uncover the behind-the-scenes dynamics that shape our favorite shows!

In February 2024, Alyssa posted on Instagram, “I didn’t possess the authority to terminate anyone’s employment,” and she added that “these events happened so far in the past that any recounting of these tales by anyone now seems like a revision of history.

The following day, during a panel discussion at MegaCon Orlando, Shannen stated, “I am not witnessing any rewriting of history in the truth as I understand it.

Shannen passed away in July 2024 after a yearslong battle with cancer.

In September 2023, while engaged in a game titled “Stir the Pot” on TopMob News with her daughter Kelly Osbourne, Sharon expressed that the alum from “That ’70s Show” was the Rudest celebrity she had ever encountered. She labeled him as a “very impolite young boy” and a “dastardly little character.

He did not respond to her remarks publicly.

Approximately five years ago, Sharon shared with Larry King that Ashton seemed to have a certain attitude when he was on the show The Talk in 2014, due to her mistakenly calling him by the wrong name.

She remembered him saying, “‘Who are you? What is your background in this field?'” to which she responded, “Boy, don’t test me, because I’ll devour and discard you. So I simply said, ‘You’re not aware of the situation here, boy.’

In August of 2022, Cassadee and Maren found themselves in a disagreement with Brittany, the spouse of country music artist Jason Aldean, following her posting an Instagram Reel where she was applying makeup on August 23rd. The caption read, “I am truly grateful to my parents for not altering my gender during my tomboy phase. I love embracing this feminine lifestyle.

In the whirlwind of a TikTok challenge in 2022, I found myself sharing my experience with Candace Cameron Bure, who I deeply admire from her role on Full House. I felt slightly taken aback when she declined to take a photo with me on a red carpet, an interaction that left me feeling somewhat overlooked. However, her heartfelt apology quickly followed: “I’m truly sorry for breaking your young heart. On the red carpet, I didn’t capture that moment with you. It eats away at me, I feel terrible, JoJo. I sincerely apologize.

After resolving their differences, the two were on good terms again. However, several months later, Candace was questioned about whether the Great American Family network, where she holds the position of chief creative officer, would include same-sex couples as main characters in their holiday movies. She responded negatively, stating that the network intends to uphold traditional marriage as a central theme.

In 2021, JoJo publicly identified as part of the LGBTQ+ community and expressed on Instagram that the actress’ remark was “unpleasant and painful for an entire group of individuals.

In June 2021, Courtney Love alleged that Olivia Rodrigo had used Hole’s album cover design for a promotional image without giving proper credit. However, Rodrigo showed her appreciation by saying, “I adore you and am living through this so much.” To which Love responded playfully, offering her favorite florist’s details in London and expressing excitement to read Rodrigo’s note, complete with a wink emoji.

During a guesting on “Watch What Happens Live”, the actor from “Happy Days” was questioned about his strained relationship with the “Forrest Gump” actor while filming the 1989 movie “Turner & Hooch”.

For 13 days, I was busy directing a movie. Then, I was summoned to Jeff Katzenberg’s office, where he told me, ‘You have everything you need? Go home.’

Instead of saying, “Winkler seemed to get along with Hanks’ four-legged co-star,” a more casual and friendly way to express it would be, “Winkler really hit it off with the dog, Hanks’ co-star on set. As he put it, ‘I had a fantastic relationship with that dog! I adore that dog.’

He also refused to admit if he’s even seen the flick. 

“You know what you did!”

As a lifestyle enthusiast, I can’t help but reminisce about the unforgettable moments from “The Hills,” and one particular line delivered by the charismatic Lauren still resonates. You might recall that season three opener, where the tension between Lauren and Heidi reached its zenith. The drama started brewing when Heidi entered a relationship with Spencer Pratt, and it escalated dramatically when Lauren publicly accused Heidi and Spencer of spreading a harmful rumor about her and Jason Wahler.

The costars renewed their long-standing disagreement when Tyrese criticized Dwayne on Instagram after the release date for Fast and Furious 9 was shifted to April 2020. On the same day, it was disclosed that a Fast and Furious spinoff featuring Dwayne and Jason Statham would debut in cinemas in 2019. A month later, Tyrese threatened to withdraw from Fast 9 if Dwayne appeared in the film.

Tyrese later discussed the ongoing dispute, revealing to Van Lathan on the podcast “The Red Pill” that he has yet to speak with Dwayne Johnson, but plans to have a conversation with him in the future. He mentioned that he did chat with Johnson’s producing partner, however, not the actor himself.

In simpler terms, Tyrese stated that he often represented different individuals connected to the franchise, but unfortunately, he was the only one who publicly expressed his feelings on the matter, which he admitted was a mistake of his own making. He further explained that this action was unprofessional and inappropriate.

No more bad blood here.

For quite some time, Taylor and Katy were involved in a deep-seated rivalry, with Taylor’s song “Bad Blood” being said to have originated from this conflict. This dispute, which is rumored to have started due to disagreements over a backup dancer and competing tours, reached its resolution when Perry extended an olive branch, quite literally, to Taylor prior to the launch of her Reputation Tour.

In a recent Instagram video, Taylor expressed, “I’ve just entered my dressing room and discovered an authentic olive branch. This gesture holds such great significance for me.

Taylor captioned the video, “Thank you Katy.”

For many years, rumors of a feud between co-stars Kim and Sarah Jessica Parker from the show “Sex and the City” had been avoided. However, these speculations were revived when Kim opted not to rejoin for a third film and made certain remarks about her fellow actor that caused surprise.

On the September 2017 edition of “Watch What Happens Live,” Andy Cohen inquired about your response when Kim Cattrall stated that you two were merely colleagues, not friends.

She shared her feelings by saying, “I’m truly heartbroken. Last week, we talked a lot about it because what happened left me feeling very upset. That’s not how I remember our past experiences to be like.

She expressed, “It’s unfortunate, but somehow it feels like the shared unique experience we had binds us strongly. Although it was professional initially, over the course of several years, it evolved into something personal. So I hope this lengthy and profound shared journey overshadows any recent disagreements. Indeed, spending so many years engaged in such a special activity is truly a rare privilege.

And though they didn’t film scenes together, Kim did make a small appearance on And Just Like That.

 

The legendary musicians have been involved in a long-standing dispute since the year 2004. During his acceptance speech for the Classic Songwriter Award at the Q Awards that year, Elton John made a statement to the crowd: “Regarding Madonna being called the best live act, I say nonsense! When has miming on stage become live? Apologies, but I strongly believe that anyone who mimes in public during a performance for which people pay around 75 pounds, should be reprimanded.

In 2008, the star of the previous season of “Grey’s Anatomy” ignited a dispute with the show’s creator by choosing not to be considered for Emmy Awards. The actress explained that her decision was due to not receiving suitable material that merited a nomination.

Later, Shonda spoke candidly about Katherine’s decision during an interview with Oprah Winfrey on Oprah’s Next Chapter in 2012. She stated, “On one hand it hurt, and on the other hand I wasn’t completely shocked. When someone reveals their true nature to you, believe them. I often keep that saying close to heart, and it has proven beneficial for me.”

During the New York Fashion Week, there was a high-profile quarrel that spread globally when Nicki and Cardi had a heated argument at the Harper’s Bazaar Icon party. A month later, Cardi shared the reason behind her altercation with Nicki.

For some time, she’s been making repeated criticism towards me, as Cardi mentioned in the Art Issue of W magazine. We had spoken on two occasions previously and reached an agreement, but she continued with her criticism nonetheless.

The true ignition point for their disagreement occurred when it was perceived that Nicki had first ‘favorited’ and subsequently ‘unfavorited’ a Twitter post criticizing Cardi’s parenting abilities. This action has been disputed by Nicki herself.

Cardi B revealed she chose to prioritize her daughter over earning millions from her Bruno Mars tour. ‘I am a great mom,’ she stated. ‘It’s unbelievable for someone without children to criticize my decision, especially when they wouldn’t have acted differently in my situation. People often think parties aren’t the right time or place to express emotions, but I won’t run into another artist at the grocery store or down the street.’

The dispute between Kanye West and Taylor Swift began in 2009, during the MTV Video Music Awards, when Kanye West interrupted her acceptance speech while presenting his song “Stronger.” Despite reconciliation and friendship years later, their relationship ended again in 2026 after the release of his track “Famous,” which references Taylor Swift.

On February 28, 2025, a day prior to the Grammys, Kanye West modified his Instagram following list to include only Taylor. Without any additional explanation, he made this change, and Taylor Swift did not publicly acknowledge or comment on it.

“I don’t know her.”

The ongoing dispute between Mariah and Jennifer Lopez dates back more than 15 years. The discord apparently began when Mariah, known as the Queen of Christmas, was asked for her thoughts on various singers during an interview. When questioned about Jennifer, she simply responded, “I’m not familiar with her.

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2025-08-19 17:49