This April 30, 2019 file photo shows actress Lea Michele at The Hollywood Reporter’s Empowerment in Entertainment Gala in Los Angeles. Michele has apologized for being “unnecessarily difficult” on the set of the musical TV show “Glee” after a black co-star accused Michele of making her time there “a living hell.” She issued a statement saying that while she didn’t recall any incident or judged anyone by their skin color, she was sorry and blamed “immaturity.”
This April 30, 2019 file photo shows actress Lea Michele at The Hollywood Reporter’s Empowerment in Entertainment Gala in Los Angeles. Michele has apologized for being “unnecessarily difficult” on the set of the musical TV show “Glee” after a black co-star accused Michele of making her time there “a living hell.” She issued a statement saying that while she didn’t recall any incident or judged anyone by their skin color, she was sorry and blamed “immaturity.” Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP
Herb Scribner
By Herb Scribner
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“Glee” star Lea Michele apologized this week after cast mates revealed she had a history of aggression on set of the mid-aughts singing show.

What’s the news:

  • Michele wrote on Instagram that she was “very” sorry after she faced recent criticisms.
  • She wrote:“I listened to these criticisms and I am learning and while I am very sorry, I will be better in the future from this experience.”
  • “The responses I received to what I posted have made me also focus specifically on how my own behavior towards fellow cast members was perceived by them.
  • She said she didn’t remember “ever making this specific statement” and “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. Whether it was my privileged position and perspective that caused me to be perceived as insensitive or inappropriate at times or whether it was just my immaturity and me just being unnecessarily difficult, I apologize for my behavior and for any pain which I have caused. We all can grow and change and I have definitely used these past several months to reflect my own shortcomings.”

What the cast said:

  • The criticisms began when Samantha Ware, who appeared on the final season of the show, slammed Michele on social media. Michele had posted a #BlackLivesMatter post. Ware responded with allegations that Michele wanted to defecate in Ware’s wig and made her life difficult on set.
  • Amber Riley — who appeared on “Glee” as Mercedes — responded with a GIF of herself raising her hand and sipping tea. No specific comments. This post would imply that Riley understands the allegations, agrees with them or is watching them from the sidelines but finds them interesting.
  • Alex Newell, who plays Unique Adams, post a GIF of RuPaul using binoculars, which indicates Newell is watching the events unfold.
  • Yvette Nicole Brown, who worked with Michele on “The Mayor” TV show, said she “felt every one of those capital letters” in Ware’s tweet.
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