Heather Morris Reveals Why ‘Glee’ Cast Didn’t Speak Out Against Lea Michele Sooner
Glee was a hit satirical teen dramedy on Fox that aired from 2009 to 2015 and launched many 20-something stars into global fame. The actors portrayed a group of misfit high schoolers in Ohio who were passionate about show choir. The show appealed to high school outsiders around the world, who sought a place where they would fit in. But allegedly, behind-the-scenes it wasn’t as inclusive as on-screen. Heather Morris revealed why she and other Glee cast members didn’t speak out on Lea Michele’s behavior sooner.
Former ‘Glee’ actors spoke out against Lea Michele in 2020
While racial tensions were rising in the summer of 2020, Michele showed her support to the Black community on Twitter. Samantha Marie Ware, who was on Glee as Jane Hayward for 11 episodes in 2015, replied to Michele in a since-deleted tweet about her behavior on set.
Ware said on Twitter: “I believe you told everyone that if [you] had the opportunity you would ‘sh*t in my wig!’ Amongst other traumatic microaggressions that made me question a career in Hollywood.”
After Ware spoke out, Amber Riley seemed to agree with her statement. This was the first time Glee actors were accusing Michele of racist incidents on set.
Michele apologized on her Instagram account.
“I clearly acted in ways which hurt other people,” Michele wrote. “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.”
Heather Morris: why ‘Glee’ cast didn’t speak on Lea Michele sooner
Michele went on Danny Pellegrino’s Everything Iconic podcast to chat about Glee. She revealed why she and her castmates didn’t feel comfortable coming forward about their accusations toward Michele sooner.
“The only person who was honest about it was Naya [Rivera],” Morris said. “It was something that was very hush-hush on set. Now you see all these things coming out with these bigger names who were very disrespectful and mistreated a lot of people and people allowed it to happen. We absolutely could’ve stepped up and gone to the Fox execs and said how we felt about the situation and nobody really did.”
Morris said that times are different now and more people are coming out with accusations regarding misbehavior in Hollywood.
“Now we are living in a culture where it’s acceptable to go do things like that whereas I think many people were very scared,” she continued. “I know genuinely I didn’t feel like it was my place, and I don’t know why because I was a cast member just like everyone else and we all deserve to feel comfortable on a set.”
Heather Morris revealed if she’s been in touch with Lea Michele
Morris claimed that it was an “elephant in the room” regarding Michele’s behavior on Glee.
“We all got close with Lea at certain points, then we all weren’t as close with her,” she revealed. “There’s that human element to it, to understanding who this person is. Growing with that person, seeing her try to become better, and taking care of herself after Cory [Monteith] passed. It was the elephant in the room.”
Pellegrino asked if Morris has been in touch with Michele since the accusations came out in 2020.
“I haven’t, but I always wish her the best of luck and I know she has that little one at home,” Morris expressed.
