Patti LuPone Shuts Down Rumors Of Her 'American Horror Story' Return

I love excuses from actors. When they explain why they aren’t joining or returning to a project, they are often very diplomatic, trying to avoid any possible blowback. After all, they may not work with or for a specific person this time, but they may work for or with them again. An unfortunate side of the business is that people have to keep up appearances and play nice, even if they don’t like somebody or what they’re about. It’s part of the business. Then there are people like Patti LuPone who have no time to mince words.

LuPone is a legendary stage and screen actor. Her work ranges from originating Broadway roles to starring in an MCU show. She brings her A game to everything she’s in, even if it’s a few guest spots on 30 Rock. She rules, and she has a bit of a reputation for speaking her mind (as she should). This is the same woman who yanked a cellphone out of a patron’s hand in the middle of a performance. She doesn’t give a f***. So, it makes sense that she wouldn’t pretend she wants to return for American Horror Story.

Yes, American Horror Story is still going! I never made it past Jessica Lange singing Nirvana in a 1950s sideshow, but to each their own. The show often creates a lot of buzz with each season’s premise, but they often don’t stick the landing, depending on who you ask. I’ve met plenty of people who still stand by the show, but even they won’t act like it’s anything close to what it was in the early seasons. Now, there are rumors the newest and thirteenth season will (appropriately) be its last, and creator Ryan Murphy wants to get a lot of the old cast back. That won’t include Patti LuPone.

LuPone appeared in the third and 11th seasons of the show. She recently sat for an interview with Gold Derby and was asked about a potential return for the show, with the interviewer noting that Muprhy wanted “to bring the group back together for Season 13.” “What group is that, though?” Patti asked. When told it was the “really, really cool people, ” LuPone still did not show any interest. “Yeah, I don’t think so,” she said, continuing, “I think he was probably talking about the guys.”

Is that as blunt as LuPone has been known to get? No. Is it still blunt for “Hollywood talk?” Absolutely. LuPone doesn’t try to butter up Murphy with any flowery language. There’s no, “well, I loved working for him, but…” It’s LuPone saying that not only will she not return, but she thinks the creator is more interested in working with other people. It’s about as no-nonsense as it gets, and I would expect nothing less from Patti LuPone.