Oprah’s Teasing Moment at the 2025 Tony Awards
Oprah Winfrey made a splash at the 2025 Tony Awards, where her playful commentary raised eyebrows. While announcing the award for best performance by a leading actress in a musical, she seemed to take a jab at Patti LuPone, especially since Audra McDonald, who was nominated in that category, was present in the audience.
As Winfrey, aged 71, delivered her lines, she paused for laughter, glancing around as if enjoying an inside joke, and exclaimed, “Lotta is on!” This comment came just moments before McDonald lost out to Nicole Scherzinger for her role in “Sunset Boulevard.”
In contrast, LuPone did not attend the Tony Awards this year. While not nominated, her co-star Mia Farrow from “The Roommate” was in the running for Best Performance by a Leading Actress.
Spencer Althouse, the Editorial Director of Buzzfeed, shared a clip of Winfrey’s speech on social media platforms, humorously noting, “Omg Not Oprah Winfrey is presenting at Tony Awards Lol, not throwing shade at Patti LuPone.” Many fans remarked that Winfrey’s phrase “Speaking Lotta” was a nod to Beyoncé’s song, “American Requiem.”
In recent weeks, LuPone, now 76, had stirred controversy by commenting on other Broadway stars, including Kecia Lewis, stating that she “is not a friend” and expressing confusion over Lewis’s remarks about her. LuPone’s bluntness didn’t go unnoticed, and she reflected on her experience in a Broadway scene.
Amidst the drama, over 500 Broadway artists have signed an open letter condemning LuPone’s language as “degraded” and “misogynistic,” characterizing it as bullying and a product of ongoing abuse within the industry. Following this backlash, LuPone issued an apology on Instagram, labeling her comments “despicable and rude.”
She expressed regret for her “inappropriate and emotional response” during an interview, acknowledging that it upset others in the community. LuPone stated her commitment to addressing the situation and aimed to apologize personally to those involved.
When asked about LuPone’s remarks, McDonald spoke with CBS Morning, saying, “If there’s a cleft between us, we don’t know what it is.” She added that their busy lives might explain the disconnect, and maintained that for clarity, it was better to ask LuPone directly.
