Glee star Lea Michele has faced multiple accusations of on-set bullying following claims she made a black female co-star’s life ‘a living hell’.
After the 33-year-old actress shared a Twitter post expressing solidarity with George Floyd protesters on Friday, Samantha Ware publicly accused her of threatening to defecate in her wig and subjecting her to ‘other traumatic microaggressions’.
Lea has since apologised for her past behaviour, but Sydney radio hosts Jackie ‘O’ Henderson and Kyle Sandilands – who had a bad experience with the Broadway star several years ago – said on Thursday it wasn’t good enough.
Jackie said Lea’s apology had ‘missed the mark’ because she attempted to shift the blame onto her colleagues for ‘perceiving’ her words and actions the wrong way.
‘It missed the mark’: Sydney radio host Jackie ‘O’ Henderson (pictured) has blasted Lea Michele’s apology to her Glee co-star Samantha Ware
The saga began when Lea tweeted in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, and Samantha called her out, asking: ‘Remember when you made my first television gig a living hell?
‘Cause I’ll never forget… I believe you told everyone that if you had the opportunity you would “s**t in my wig!” amongst other traumatic microaggressions that made me question a career in Hollywood.’
Several A-list stars, including Ariana Grande and Keke Palmer, unfollowed Lea and she was immediately dropped as a Hello Fresh spokesperson, which led Lea to issue an apology.
Allegations: Glee star Lea Michele (pictured) has faced multiple accusations of on-set bullying following claims she made a black female co-star’s life ‘a living hell’. Pictured as Rachel Berry
Claims: After the 33-year-old actress shared a Twitter post expressing solidarity with George Floyd protesters on Friday, Samantha Ware (pictured) publicly accused her of threatening to defecate in her wig and subjecting her to ‘other traumatic microaggressions’
‘Remember when you made my first television gig a living hell?’ Samantha tweeted. ‘Cause I’ll never forget… I believe you told everyone that if you had the opportunity you would “s**t in my wig!” amongst other traumatic microaggressions that made me question a career in Hollywood’
Lea admitted her ‘privileged position and immaturity’ had contributed to causing pain to her former co-star, 28, in a statement posted to Instagram on Wednesday.
She said: ‘When I tweeted the other day, it was meant to be a show of support for our friends and neighbors and communities of color during this really difficult time.
‘But the responses I received to what I posted have made me also focus on how my own behavior towards fellow cast members was perceived by them.
‘While I don’t remember ever making this specific statement [about the wig] and I have never judged others by their background or color of their skin, that’s not really the point. What matters is that I clearly acted in ways which hurt other people.’
Shock: Several A-list stars, including Ariana Grande and Keke Palmer, unfollowed Lea and she was immediately dropped as a Hello Fresh spokesperson, which led Lea to issue an apology
Apology: Lea admitted her ‘privileged position and immaturity’ had contributed to causing pain to her former co-star, 28, in a statement posted to Instagram on Wednesday
Based on the public’s response, Jackie suggested it was ‘actually worse’ that Lea couldn’t remember her ‘s**ting in the wig’ threat because that’s a ‘really nasty thing to say’.
She also pointed out Lea had used the word ‘perceived’ several times in her apology.
‘Lea has obviously written an apology on her Instagram but it missed the mark, I think. Most of the comments are like, “Are you kidding? This is the worst apology ever,”‘ Jackie said.
Wrong answer: Based on the public’s response, Jackie suggested it was ‘actually worse’ that Lea (pictured in March 2018) couldn’t remember her ‘s**ting in the wig’ threat because that’s a ‘really nasty thing to say’
She added: That’s the part where everyone said, “What do you mean perceived by them? You weren’t in the wrong and they were just perceiving you wrong?” That’s where a lot of people have taken issue.’
Kyle agreed with the public outrage, saying that ‘you misunderstood me’ doesn’t constitute a real apology.
Jackie replied: ‘When you apologise and say, “I’m sorry you took it that way,” that’s not saying sorry. That’s saying you’re the one that has the issue, not me.’
‘This is the worst apology ever’: She also pointed out Lea had used the word ‘perceived’ several times in her apology – which pushed the blame onto her co-stars for being offended
Jackie has her own beef with Lea after she asked the singer a question during an interview years ago that angered her fiercely loyal fanbase.
The 45-year-old had asked Lea about a rumour the stars of Glee were contracted to do six seasons without a pay rise, even if the show went on to become a success.
Lea’s reaction, Jackie said, was ‘totally unwarranted’.
They have history: Jackie has her own beef with Lea after she asked the singer a question during an interview years ago that angered her fiercely loyal fanbase
‘Oh god, the frickin’ backlash I got,’ Jackie recalled on air in 2018. ‘She made my life hell!’
‘She pretty much banned her agent, who looked after heaps of celebrities, we got blacklisted from everyone because she was so offended at a question that was in the news already!’ she added.
‘Who cares about that kid — can’t stand that girl,’ Kyle responded.
Diva: Jackie (pictured with co-host Kyle Sandilands) had asked Lea about a rumour the stars of Glee were contracted to do six seasons without a pay rise, even if the show went on to become a success. Lea was so angry she told her agent to blacklist The Kyle and Jackie O Show