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Lea Michele has decisively addressed the persistent rumor about her literacy that has followed her since 2015. During a recent appearance on the "Therapuss with Jake Shane" podcast, the 38-year-old "Glee" alum confronted what she calls a "wild" conspiracy theory head-on.
"I'll never forget the day that all came out," Michele recalled, noting that despite major political news that day, "what was trending online more was, 'Lea Michele can't read.'"
The rumor, which suggests Michele memorizes lines after others read them to her, first came to her attention through "Glee" co-creator Ryan Murphy. "Ryan called me and was like, 'Have you heard this rumor?' And I was like, 'No, what's going on?'"
During the podcast, Michele playfully debunked the speculation by reading Shane's notecards aloud. "Give me the notes! I'm reading them!" she demanded jokingly, adding, "Jonathan [Groff] is not here to read me this s--t!"
Though Michele approached the topic with humor, she revealed the rumor's personal impact. "There are moments where I f--king get so frustrated by it because I'm one of the only women in my whole family to get accepted to college," she explained.
"My mother and my mother's whole family was extremely poor, from the Bronx, not very well educated," Michele continued. "My parents moved me from the Bronx to New Jersey to get a good education and to thrive, and I did."
The Broadway star emphasized how her educational achievements were significant for her family. "It really was so important for my grandmother to see me, and for someone to minimize that, it's so sad and so frustrating."
Michele has previously addressed these allegations in a 2022 New York Times interview, stating, "I went to Glee every single day; I knew my lines every single day. 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."
Her longtime friend Jonathan Groff had a pointed response when asked about the rumor on another podcast. According to Michele, "He was like, 'Do you really think she can't? What the f--k does that say about you?'"
Despite her frustration, Michele maintains perspective: "Sometimes I think it's crazy that people care enough about me that they would make up something. That someone has so little to do in their life that they would waste it on me is hilarious."
The persistent speculation continues despite Michele's educational background, Broadway success, and television career spanning over a decade.
