Funny Girl Lea Michele Finally Addresses Rumor That She Can't Read or Write

Glee star Lea Michele addressed the rumors about her being illiterate in an interview with The New York Times, saying that she thinks it's "sad."

While speaking with the Times on her role as Fanny Brice in Funny Girl before her opening night on Broadway on September 6, Michele also confronted some of the rumors, including the one about her being illiterate.

"I went to Glee every single day; I knew my lines every single day," she said. "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."

Conspiracy theories that Michele can't read or write began to surface several years ago, when Glee star Naya Rivera wrote about Michele in her memoir. Michele did not comment, prompting the hosts of the One More Thing podcast, Jaye Hunt and Robert Ackerman, to joke that Michele must not be able to read. It didn't take long for social media to grab hold, and viral TikToks and social media threads over the years have continued to push the joke, some even claiming to have "evidence."

She laughed about the rumor in 2018 when she responded to a fan in a tweet, "Loved READING this tweet and wanted to WRITE you back? literally laughing out loud at all this? love you!!! ? ❤️."

In her interview with the Times, the Scream Queens alum also discussed the allegations from co-stars and former colleagues who have accused her of bullying, including claims from Glee actress Samantha Marie Ware, who stated in 2020 that she was the victim of several "traumatic microaggressions" from Michele. Ware also said that Michele had threatened to get her fired and made a comment in front of castmates that humiliated her.

But Michele told the Times that she has undergone an "intense time of reflection" regarding the way she works with others as she prepares to star in Funny Girl.

"I really understand the importance and value now of being a leader," she said. "It means not only going and doing a good job when the camera's rolling, but also when it's not. And that wasn't always the most important thing for me."

"I have an edge to me. I work really hard. I leave no room for mistakes," Michele added. "That level of perfectionism, or that pressure of perfectionism, left me with a lot of blind spots."

And much like Michele's Glee character Rachel Berry, who starred on Broadway as Fanny Brice in the show, Michele is excited to play the role to the best of her abilities after taking the place of Beanie Feldstein.

"I feel more ready than I ever have before, both personally and professionally," Michele said.

Newsweek reached out to a representative for Michele for additional comment.