Tony-winning Broadway star Laura Benanti was served a piece of humble pie when a group of theater kids had no idea who she was on a recent flight.
“So, I would say about 83 percent of the people on this airplane are teenagers in a theater group, and not a single one of them recognized me,” she opened her video, which was reposted on X Thursday.
“I could not tolerate that, obviously. So, I said, ‘Are you guys part of a theater group?’ And they said yes. Then I said, ‘I do theater.’ Then, a young man in a beret and a jacket draped over his shoulders said, ‘Cool,’” she said, before she joked, “RIP.”
Of course, it didn’t take long for fans to file in with comments criticizing Benanti — whose Broadway credits include (2008) “Gypsy,” (2016) “She Loves Me,” and (2018) “My Fair Lady” — for expecting that the kids would recognize her.
“I have no idea who she is. Poor baby has to fly like the rest of us, unnoticed. Awwww, lol,” one X user wrote in response to Benanti’s clip.
“I wouldn’t recognize her either. I still don’t know who she is,” said another.
A third person added: “People have their lives to live. You are just one out of thousands of actresses, get on with life and stop drooling over lack of attention.
Eventually, the actress walked back her original video, explaining that she was making a joke about herself in her follow-up post on Friday.
“So, I posted a video also on an airplane in this hat and jacket and it has made people very mad. Here’s what I wanna say: That video is me making fun of myself — not making fun of those kids, not expecting them to know me. That kid is an icon,” Benanti declared.
“I know nobody cares about me. I literally have a comedy show called ‘Laura Benanti: Nobody Cares.’ So, all you mean meanies, you’re not telling me anything I don’t know. I thought this was going to be my niche theater community and somehow, it ended up on the bad side of the internet. So, just here to say, eww.”
She reiterated the comments made in her new video in the caption, adding: “Dear Internet, I was making fun of MYSELF. That is literally why my comedy show is called ‘NOBODY CARES.’”
“I don’t know how real celebrities deal with this stuff. Heading back to my sweet theater side of the internet where people understand my self deprecating humor,” she closed.
Several stars showed up to offer some supportive words to Benanti amid the backlash. Pamela Adlon and Bianca Del Rio reacted to the clip sharing several laughing emojis in her comments section.
“Your idea was BRILLIANT! Please don’t pay attention to those humans trying hard to understand their own misery. It’s a waste of time. Thank you for your joy. Your gift and your radiance,” said actress Alexandra Billings.
“Your people got it. 😂 more importantly did the kid in the jacket reach out yet? I’m dying for him to figure it out,” said fellow Broadway actress Rachel Potter.
