Former Glee and Looking star Jonathan Groff, who stars as King George in the Broadway production of Hamilton, possesses no stars in his eyes for Madonna. The singer famously texted throughout a performance and was “personally banned” backstage (and from all future shows) by author and star Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Madonna’s rep denied the report, but this wasn’t the first time Madge fought for her right to text in a darkened theater. In 2013, Madge reportedly tapped away during the first half of 12 Years a Slave during the New York Film Festival premiere. When an audience member asked her to put the phone away, Madonna snapped, “It’s for business… ENSLAVER!” This response led film critic Charles Taylor to label Madge as “the worst person in America.”
Groff dished the Hamilton incident with Dot429, saying there was no ambiguity in the situation, and he’s not disappointed that Madonna got banned:
“No. Because that b*tch was on her phone. You couldn’t miss it from the stage. It was a black void of the audience in front of us and her face there perfectly lit by the light of her iPhone through three-quarters of the show.”
In contrast, Groff says Michelle Obama was a dream guest:
“[The First Lady] came backstage and hugged every crew member — the wig girl, all the costume people, every cast member. She said to us — and this is a direct quote — ‘This is the greatest piece of art I’ve ever seen.'”
None of this information comes as much of a surprise, but it’s nice to hear Groff publicly call out Madonna after her team took pains to deny texting reports. Why do people attend shows, live or otherwise, and stare at the phones? The rudeness addiction is real.
(via Vulture, Dot 429 & Hollywood Reporter)
