Supergirl star Melissa Benoist, who appeared on Glee with Lea Michele, liked a series of posts describing star’s bullying and abusive behavior toward castmates.
Prior to getting the covered role of Supergirl and her alter ego Kara Danvers on The CW series, the Littleton, Colorado-born Benoist appeared on Glee’s fourth season playing a character named Marley Rose. She sang a duet with Michele on the series.
Benoist – who has used her social media to focus on the Black Lives Matter movement amid ongoing societal upheaval in the wake of the killing of George Floyd – liked tweets from Samantha Ware, who broke her silence about Michele’s behavior on Tuesday, claiming that the star of the Fox show made life ‘a living hell’ for her and once threatened to defecate in a wig she owned.
The latest: Supergirl star Melissa Benoist, 31, who appeared on Glee with Lea Michele, liked a series of posts describing star’s bullying and abusive behavior toward castmates
She also pressed the heart button on tweets from Glee’s Alex Newell and Amber Riley that essentially endorsed the spirit of Ware’s sentiments.
The recipe kit delivery company HelloFresh fired Michele from an endorsement position after a Twitter user on Tuesday who suggested it should cut ties with Michele amid the spate of allegations linked to bullying and abuse.
‘HelloFresh does not condone racism nor discrimination of any kind. We are disheartened and disappointed to learn of the recent claims concerning Lea Michele,’ the company said.
It continued: ‘We take this very seriously, and have ended our partnership with Lea Michele, effective immediately.’
Remember me? The message was met with an acerbic response from Samantha, 28, after Lea took to social media on Saturday to pay tribute to George Floyd and in support of the Black Lives Matter movement
Support: Melissa liked a series of posts on the issue including this one from Alex Newell
Keeping an eye on things: The Supergirl star liked all of the above posts
Lea’s former castmate Samantha Ware, made the claim on Monday that the actress made her life ‘a living hell’ on-set – even once threatening to defecate ‘in her wig.’
Lea, who played Rachel Berry on the show, took to social media on Friday to pay tribute to George Floyd.
‘George Floyd did not deserve this. This was not an isolated incident and it must end’ she wrote.
Hello, Goodbye: She liked a post describing that Michele was fired from an endorsement deal
Ware, who appeared in 2015 in the show’s sixth season, swiftly hit back, ‘Remember when you made my first television gig a living hell?!?!…
‘Cause I’ll never forget… I believe you told everyone that if you had the opportunity you would ‘s*** in my wig!’ amongst other traumatic microaggressions that made me question a career in Hollywood.’
Lea, who is currently pregnant with her first child, posted her most recent ad for HelloFresh on May 20.
Backlash: Lea Michele has been dropped by HelloFresh after allegations she bullied a castmember on the Glee set in 2015 (this is the last ad Lea posted for the brand on May 20)
Effective immediately: HelloFresh revealed their decision when responding to a tweet by someone who called for them to cut ties with the actress
Mean girl? Lea’s former Glee co-star Samantha Ware claimed the actress made her life ‘a living hell’ on-set – even once threatening to defecate ‘in her wig (Lea, pictured left in character as Rachel Berry, Samantha, pictured right in character as Jane Hayward)
Shortly after Ware’s accusations went viral, Lea’s pal and Scream Queens co-star Ariana Grande, as well as her Glee co-star Keke Palmer unfollowed Lea on Instagram, suggesting that the accusations against the actress carry weight.
Alex Newell, Amber Riley and Dabier Snell – who all co-starred in ‘Glee’ – also reacted to the tweet in support of Samantha.
Alex and Amber shared gifs, with Alex posting the ‘Get her, Jade’ meme from Drag Race, while Dabier wrote: ‘GIRL YOU WOULDNT LET ME SIT AT THE TABLE WITH THE OTHER CAST MEMBERS CAUSE ‘I DIDNT BELONG THERE’ F**K YOU LEA (sic).’
Community actress Yvette Nicole Brown showed her support for Samantha by writing: ‘I felt every one of those capital letters.’ And Alex replied: ‘Felt like claps!!’
Meanwhile, back in 2011, Hailee Steinfeld, now 23, revealed how Lea made her cry on the Paramount lot.
Shortly after Ware’s accusations went viral, Lea’s pal and Scream Queens co-star Ariana Grande, as well as her Glee co-star Keke Palmer unfollowed Lea on Instagram
Not so subtle: Glee’s Amber Riley posted this GIF of her raising her hand, amid rumors that Lea Michele was less than kind to work with on the Ryan Murphy show
Not happy: Community star Yvette Nicole Brown, who did not appear on Glee, also voiced her opinion
In agreement: Alex Newell, who starred as Unique Adams on series for four seasons, wasn’t so subtle – and began replying to fans about the drama.
Ouch: Actor Dabier Snell, who appeared in an episode of the show, did not hold back
Staying out of the matter: Kevin McHale, who played Artie Abrams from the show’s debut, swerved a response when asked about the controversy on Twitter
She told J-14 magazine: ‘When I was auditioning for ‘True Grit’, I was on the Paramount lot. I was wearing clothes from the 1800s that were big and uncomfortable. Glee’ also films on the lot and I love that show…
‘I saw Lea Michele just walking to her trailer, and I was like, ”That’s the girl from ‘Glee’. I’ve got to go ask for her autograph!’
‘So I walked up to her and asked for her autograph, but she walked by and a guy came and said, ‘Sorry, now’s not a good time!’ I was so sad! I was practically crying on the way home.’
Expecting: Lea is expecting a child with her husband, businessman Zandy Reich
Tough times: Michele, 37, played the role of Rachel Berry (back row) on the show’s six seasons, getting nominated for an Emmy and two Golden Globe awards with the part
Michele, who is expecting a child with her husband, businessman Zandy Reich, 37, played the role of Rachel Berry on the show’s six seasons, getting nominated for an Emmy and two Golden Globe awards with the part.
Ware was on the show for 11 shows in 2015 in its sixth season. Her career has flourished with turns on shows such as What/If, Chicago Med and God Friended Me.
MailOnline has contacted representatives for Lea for comment.
Oh dear… Four years ago, former Glee star Naya Rivera said Michele brought ego, tension and hostility onto the set with her
Four years ago, former Glee star Naya Rivera said Michele brought ego, tension and hostility onto the set with her.
In her 2016 book, Sorry Not Sorry: Dreams, Mistakes and Growing Up, she wrote: ‘If I’d complained about anyone or anything, she’d assumed I was b****ng about her’.
In the tome, Naya said Michele eventually stopped speaking with her altogether.
‘She started to ignore me, and eventually it got to the point where she didn’t say a word to me for all of Season 6,’ Rivera said, ‘Lea and I definitely weren’t the best of friends, and I doubt we’ll ever sit on her couch and eat kale together again.’
Tough times: Meanwhile, back in 2011, Hailee Steinfeld, now 23, revealed how Lea made her cry on the Paramount lot
Piling on: Another actor who starred on GLEE, Dabier Snell, also chimed in claiming Michele did not let him sit at the table with other cast members
Interesting:Transgender NYC nightlife star Linux TheRobot was an extra on Glee and said Lea was a ‘tyrant’