Why Does The Internet Hate Lea Michele From Glee?

Lea Michele, the actor and singer best known for her role as Rachel Berry on the hit TV show Glee, has been the subject of intense criticism and scrutiny on the internet in recent years. Despite her immense talent and success, many online communities and individuals have expressed strong dislike for her, with some even going as far as to call for her cancellation. But, what are the reasons behind this phenomenon? We delve into the various controversies and accusations that have contributed to the internet's negative perception of Lea Michele.

Lea Michelle Before Glee

Prior to Glee, Michele made her Broadway debut at the age of eight in "Les Misérables" and went on to star in several other Broadway productions, including "Spring Awakening" and "Ragtime". Michele also appeared in several television shows and films before landing her breakthrough role on "Glee". 

According to various sources, including an interview with casting director Robert J. Ulrich, Lea Michele was discovered for her role as Rachel Berry on Glee after Ulrich saw her performance in the Broadway musical Spring Awakening. Ulrich recalled being impressed with Michele's voice and acting abilities, and recommended her to Glee creator Ryan Murphy.

Michele has also spoken about her audition for Glee in interviews and her process for landing the role of Rachel Berry. In an interview with Access Hollywood, Michele said that she prepared several songs to sing for her audition, including "On My Own" from Les Mis and Don't Rain on My Parade from Funny Girl. 

On The Set Of Glee

Several cast members from Glee have spoken out about Lea Michele's alleged negative behaviour on set.

In June 2020, actress Samantha Marie Ware came forward with accusations of bullying and "traumatic microaggressions" against actress Lea Michele during their time working together on the sixth season of Glee. Ware's comments were made in response to Michele's social media post regarding George Floyd's death and the Black Lives Matter movement. 

Several other actors, including Heather Morris, Alex Newell, and Amber Riley, among others, supported Ware's claims and shared their own experiences of Michele's hostile and rude behaviour on set, highlighting a "prima donna" attitude. However, Riley and Morris refuted the notion that Michele's actions were racially motivated.

In response to the allegations, Michele issued an apology, acknowledging the feedback from her cast members and admitting to having shown insensitivity, inappropriateness, immaturity, and difficulty toward others. She expressed her commitment to personal growth and taking responsibility for her actions.

Amber Riley, who played Mercedes Jones on Glee, said that she had not personally experienced any negative behaviour from Michele, but that "she's also pregnant and I think that everybody needs to kind of chill."

Heather Morris, who played Brittany Pierce on the show, shared a message of support for Ware and said that Michele was "unpleasant to work with."

During an appearance on the "Everything Iconic With Danny Pellegrino" podcast in May 2021, Heather Morris, known for her role as Brittany, revealed that Lea Michele's unsettling behavior on set was kept secretive within the cast.

Morris expressed her thoughts on the matter, stating, "Now you see all these things coming out with these bigger names who were very disrespectful and mistreated a lot of people. We absolutely could have stepped up and gone to the FOX execs and said how we felt about the situation, but no one did... I think many people were very scared, and I know, genuinely, I felt like it wasn't my place, and I don't know why because I was a cast member."

Naya Rivera, who tragically passed away in 2020, also wrote about her experiences with Lea Michele in her 2016 book "Sorry Not Sorry." Describing their dynamic, she wrote, "One of the Glee writers once said that Lea and I were like two sides of the same battery, and that about sums us up. We are both strong-willed and competitive—not just with each other but with everyone—and that's not a good mixture." 

Naya's character Santana often clashed with Lea's character Rachel, and as the show progressed, their friendship deteriorated. Naya believed that Lea didn't appreciate sharing the spotlight.

It is worth noting that these are allegations and have not been proven in a court of law. However, the numerous accounts from cast members have contributed to the negative perception of Michele in the media and online.

Is Glee Now Problematic?

Lea Michele's negative perception in the media isn't helped by the subject matter in some Glee episodes which are now seen, not many years later, as problematic. 

In a 2020 podcast "Dating Straight", Jenna Ushkowitz (Tina Cohen Chang) and Kevin McHale (Artie Abrahams) spoke about the moments they knew that Glee "broke them". Kevin reflected on his experience with the show and addressed the mixed reactions it received. He clarified, "I never hated it... some people did," indicating that opinions varied among the cast. He then mentioned "What Does the Fox Say," a parody song that unexpectedly gained popularity, as a reference to a moment that tested his own limits. Similarly, Jenna's breaking point seemed to be singing "Gangnam Style" by South Korean star Psy, although she didn't directly address it, hinting at the problematic nature of the musical number.

Both Kevin and Jenna agreed that the fifth season of the show was a challenging period, describing it as "rough" and "pretty tone-deaf." Kevin went on to caution that watching that particular season now would be quite shocking to viewers. Their candid insights shed light on the challenges and shortcomings they encountered during that time.

Can Lea Michele Read?

Apart from the bullying accusations, Michele has also faced rumours, conspiracy theories, and jokes suggesting that she is illiterate since 2017. These rumours gained traction as an internet meme in March 2018 and again in 2022. The origin of this rumour can be traced back to a discussion on a podcast (with Jaye Hunt and Robert Ackerman of the podcast One More Thing ) where it was mentioned that Michele had refused to improvise scenes with Tim Conway in Naya Rivera's memoir. In an interview with The New York Times, Michele expressed her disappointment and frustration with the rumours, stating that they were baseless and hurtful. She also remarked on the potential double standards at play, suggesting that if she were a man, such rumours might not have gained as much traction.

"I went to Glee every single day; I knew my lines every single day, and then there's a rumor online that I can't read or write? It's sad. It really is. I think often if I were a man, a lot of this wouldn't be the case." 

- Lea Michele, The New York Times 2022.

Despite these controversies, Michele continues to navigate her career and strives to overcome the negative perceptions surrounding her.

Lea Michele's portrayal of Rachel Berry on Glee gained both praise and criticism, but her alleged off-screen behaviour has led to a significant backlash. The internet's negative perception of Lea Michele has been fuelled by the collective sharing of these stories and experiences, leading to a widespread sentiment of disappointment and disillusionment among fans and followers. The power of social media has allowed individuals to amplify their voices and hold celebrities accountable for their actions.

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