Lea Michele Addresses Viral Illiteracy Rumors on ‘Therapuss’ Podcast

Lea Michele, the celebrated actress best known for her role in the hit television series "Glee," is making a concerted effort to finally put to rest the persistent and bizarre online conspiracy theory that she is unable to read. Michele tackled the long-standing rumor head-on during an appearance on the "Therapuss with Jake Shane" podcast on May 7th, offering what many are calling her most definitive rebuttal to date.

The genesis of the rumor, dating back to 2017, is shrouded in internet lore, but its longevity speaks to the power of online speculation. Michele, while acknowledging the absurdity of the claims, expressed a mixture of amusement and frustration at the theory’s continued presence.

In the podcast episode, Michele directly addressed the reading allegations. She even went so far as to read aloud from Shane’s cue cards during the interview, a move that many fans believe offers substantial evidence against the claims. This action was a deliberate attempt to dismantle the conspiracy theories that have dogged her for years.

"For everyone who thinks that I can’t [expletive] read," Michele stated during the podcast, "like I was on the debate team, I mean I would write speeches." She referenced her academic background and involvement in debate as evidence of her literacy skills, directly contradicting the rumors.

Michele also discussed her complex feelings about the theory. "It depends on the day," she said, when asked if she finds the rumor funny. "That someone has so little to do in their life and their day that they would waste it on me is hilarious to me." However, she also expressed a deeper frustration. "And then there are moments where I [expletive] get so frustrated by it because I’m one of the only women in my whole family to get accepted to college. For someone to minimize that, it’s so sad and so frustrating."

The article references that the rumor originated from a story in Naya Riveras memoir where the co-star called Michele out for not improvising during Glee scene.

The actress revealed that "Glee" creator Ryan Murphy was among the first to bring the rumors to her attention. "Ryan Murphy called me and he was like ‘Have you heard this rumor?’ And I was like ‘No what’s going on?’ And yeah, the fact that we are here all these years later," she stated, highlighting the enduring and somewhat unbelievable nature of the conspiracy theory.

The origins of the online theory are credited to podcasters Jaye Hunt and Robert Ackerman, who in 2017 posted a video detailing their conjecture. Their arguments were partly rooted in anecdotes surrounding Michele’s alleged aversion to improvisation on "Glee," detailed in the late Naya Rivera’s memoir "Sorry Not Sorry."

Michele has previously responded to the rumors with humor. In a 2022 TikTok video, she quipped that she was "calling Jonathan to read me the comments." She also addressed the issue in a 2022 interview with The New York Times, calling the rumor "sad." "I went to ‘Glee’ every single day; I knew my lines every single day," she emphasized.

The "Therapuss" podcast appearance marked a new approach to dispelling the rumors. By directly engaging with the claims and demonstrating her ability to read, Michele hoped to provide irrefutable evidence against the theory. "Jonathan is not here to read me this [expletive]," she declared while reading from the cue cards during the podcast.

A clip of the interview was shared on social media, further amplifying Michele’s efforts to address the conspiracy theory. However, the full hour-long episode is available on YouTube, providing a more comprehensive context for her remarks.

Despite her efforts, Michele anticipated that some online skeptics would remain unconvinced. "The theories are going to be like, ‘Jake called her in advance, this doesn’t prove anything,’" she acknowledged, showing an understanding of the resilience of online conspiracy theories.

The article underscores the odd nature of the situation, as it states that Melina Khan is a trending reporter covering national news for USA TODAY, and can be reached at [email protected].

The Lea Michele illiteracy rumor has proven to be a potent example of how easily misinformation can spread and persist online. Despite Michele’s repeated denials and now, more direct demonstrations of her reading ability, the theory continues to circulate.

The case highlights the challenges celebrities face in managing their public image in the digital age. Even seemingly absurd rumors can gain traction and create a distorted perception of a public figure.

Ultimately, Lea Michele’s recent appearance on the "Therapuss" podcast represents a renewed effort to reclaim her narrative and dispel a particularly outlandish and persistent online theory. Whether her actions will finally put the rumors to rest remains to be seen, but she has certainly provided her most robust defense yet.