Lea Salonga’s Reflection on Broadway Backstage Incident Sparks Conversation on Boundaries

Broadway actress Lea Salonga was recently in the spotlight following the backstage fiasco in the showing of “Here Lies Love.”

The sensational star politely faced Filipino fans who approached her backstage after her performance. This incident left the theater community and fans abuzz, sparking discussions on the significance of respecting artists’ personal space.

As one of the stellar leads in “Here Lies Love,” she is also one of the foundations behind the first all-Filipino cast of this energetic musical. Originally, the play had casts of different nationalities when it showed in other countries, such as London, Seattle Rep, and The Public Theater.

Step into the immersive world of HERE LIES LOVE with this new trailer!

Get tickets: https://t.co/1O9cnZgxRs pic.twitter.com/5LaryMBuzo

— broadway.com (@broadwaycom) July 17, 2023

Curated by Academy Award winner David Byrne and Grammy Award winner Fatboy Slim, The New York Times called  “Here Lies Love” an “ingenious and an ecstatic and dynamic party.”

Portraying Aurora Aquino, Ninoy Aquino’s mother, Salonga’s strong stage presence has gained critical acclaim. It solidifies her legacy as one of Broadway’s most beloved and multi-talented actresses.

The Viral Backstage Encounter

The stage play had ended, the applause had faded, but the saga was far from done, or so we thought. As the last curtain fell on “Here Lies Love,” a group of edited Filipino fans went backstage to meet the Broadway star up-close and personal.

You may also like: Will you watch ‘Here Lies Love’?

Just a reminder… I have boundaries. Do not cross them. Thank you. https://t.co/LVziX55lDf

— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) July 17, 2023

Claiming their friendship with co-producer G.Tongi, they went backstage and asked for a photo with Salonga. With a formal resolve and a bit of exasperation, she obliged their request but with reminders that backstage access was for those who were on the guest list.

Lea Salonga was not wrong to insist on respecting her personal space in this instance. These “fans” are beyond entitled and rude. But my key takeaway here is there’s no one managing or securing their backstage area?pic.twitter.com/dRuJWY1HdX

— Erwin 🇵🇭🇪🇸 (@erwinaurella) July 16, 2023

In the now-viral video, we saw Lea Salonga’s unrelenting commitment to her boundaries as an artist. She calmly said, “Thank you, but then again, I have to be strict about this.”

Hours after the incident happened, she broke her silence and took to Twitter to acknowledge the issue. In her tweets, she emphasized the significance of respecting the boundaries of artists, whatever their tickets are.

She stated, “The money you pay for a theater/concert ticket does not mean all-access. You pay for that performer’s art, and that’s where it stops.”

Then they tried to state their case, at which point I shook my head and headed to the sand/stage. My friends could hear what was going on: “Akala mo kung sino na, eh kapwa pa naman natin siya.” And as folks were exiting after the show, “O, ayan na siya, ayan na siya.”

— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) July 17, 2023

Her unapologetic and firm stance on the issue gained her admiration from fans and fellow artists. In addition, another theater actress, Mike Bradshaw-Volante, shared the same sentiments, as CNN reported.

She said, “I feel like Filipino fans are some of the most entitled fans there are. Something about our culture makes fans believe that artists owe them and that they are beholden to them somehow.”

Meanwhile, cultural insight singer Tim Pavino also spoke about the matter, comparing the situation with fans from different cultural backgrounds. He said that others were not that aggressive.

Salonga replied, “That attitude of entitlement gets a F**K THAT S**T from me.” Moreover, the Broadway star also confirmed that G. Tongi didn’t know the group of people who went to her dressing room.

It’s vital to acknowledge that, as fans, our adoration for artists should be equal to the demanding nature of their work and respect for their boundaries.

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