Oprah Winfrey’s Tony Awards Quip: Was it Patti LuPone Shade?

Oprah Winfrey left jaws ajar at the 2025 Tony Awards and not just for her glam entrance.

For, while presenting Best Leading Actress in a Musical, she gave a wink-worthy nod to the drama offstage.

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Whilst on the stage, Winfrey said:

“Our celebration of this astounding year in live theater turns to the women whose work sparked lively conversations among theater fans.”

She paused and gave the crowd a look before adding:

“Lotta talking going on!”

Cue the laughs – and the side-eyes.

omg not Oprah Winfrey throwing shade at Patti LuPone while presenting at the Tony Awards lol pic.twitter.com/l7WvmA8Bev

— Spencer Althouse (@SpencerAlthouse) June 9, 2025

Though she didn’t name names, many Broadway loyalists saw it as a subtle jab at Patti LuPone, whose messy fallout with Kecia Lewis and Audra McDonald lit up headlines earlier this year. LuPone called Lewis a “bi**h” in The New Yorker, sparking outrage and an open letter signed by 500+ theater pros.

LuPone skipped the ceremony, while McDonald, who was nominated in the category Winfrey was presenting, lost out to Nicole Scherzinger.

Now that’s theater.

Your thoughts?

[Photo Credit: Salvatore DeMaio]