Patti LuPone resigned from union, says ‘she won’t be on stage for a very long time’
Patti LuPone has resigned from the Screen Actors Guild for not wanting ‘to be on a stage for a very long time’ after the union accepted her request to leave early. The actress said she is going to take a few weeks off from work while she looks to figure out what she can do while she is out of work.
The actress had announced her intent to leave before the union’s decision was made public, but a union spokesperson said on Sunday morning that the decision was made after reviewing the actress’ request for a leave of absence.
In a statement posted on her Facebook page, LuPone said: ‘When I read the statement that the Guild gave on Friday night, it’s clear the Guild got it wrong.
‘They wanted me to go on and I refused. In writing the statement, I admitted my request for a leave of absence was denied. I will continue working for the time necessary to figure out what I can do and what I can’t do after I’m out of work.’
A message posted on LuPone’s Facebook page, read: ‘The SAG’s decision to deny me my request for a leave of absence for health reasons is a clear violation of my rights and a threat to democracy.
‘I know I can be fired now at any time, even this minute, but I will not be on stage for a very long time.’
LuPone’s statement added: ‘I am deeply sorry this process has come to be so painful for everyone involved.
‘I love being on stage and if there was a time I could return, you know I would come back to work full of energy and passion. I am no longer making this decision lightly.
‘I hope you all can continue to be open-minded and take from this experience a message of respect for those who do work, and of support for those who choose to live their lives.
‘I am truly sorry.’
She also had some choice words for SAG president Liev Schreiber, saying: ‘His words are so shallow and empty, you can see they are written more in deference to