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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Will Twigger

'Awful' Lea Michelle 'threatened to have people fired aged 12' says former understudy

Lea Michelle is facing yet more accusations of foul behaviour - even at 12 years old.

The Glee lead actress, 33, sparked fury among some of her former co-stars when she shared a social media post in support of Black Lives Matter protests sweeping the globe, following the death of George Floyd.

Former co-stars Samantha Marie Ware and Dabier Snell both hit out at Lea with allegations about her own behaviour and accusing her of hypocrisy.

Now her former understudy has waded in, claiming that she was a diva and "absolutely awful" well before her Glee days - at just 12 years old.

During a late 90s production of Ragtime, she alleged that Lea threatened to have people sacked if she wasn't pleased with them.

Lea was accused of threatening to have people fired aged 12 (Getty Images)

Elizabeth, who was 10 at the time, claimed: "I was [Lea's understudy] on Ragtime. She was absolutely awful to me and ensemble.

"She demeaned the crew and threatened to have people fired if she was in anyway displeased.

"I used to cry every night from the mean and manipulative things she would do. She was 12. She was terrifying."

She was accused by former co-stars of hypocrisy after her post in support of Black Lives Matter protests (REUTERS)
Elizabeth said she would cry over what lea said to her (@elund88/Twitter)

Elizabeth continued in a tweet: "Actors are often silenced but I'm glad her abuse has been brought to light and hope she takes a real hard look at herself and ameliorates her ways."

Mirror Online has contacted Lea's representatives for comment.

After Samantha accused Lea of making her life "a living hell", she issued an apology but denied any memory of the incident.

Samantha Ware accused Lea of making her life 'a living hell' (WireImage)

Samantha also accused her of threatening to "s**t in [her] wig."

"While I don't remember ever making this specific statement," Lea wrote, "And I have never judged others by their background or colour of their skin, that's not really the point.

"What matters is that I clearly acted in ways that hurt other people. Whether it was my privileged position and perspective that caused me to be perceived as insensitive or inappropriate at times...

Dabier Snell also accused Lea of bullying (Getty Images for IMDb)

"Or whether it was just my immaturity or me just being unnecessarily difficult, I apologise for my behaviour and for any pain which I have caused.

"We can all grow and change and I have definitely used these past several months to reflect on my own shortcomings."

Former colleagues Alex Newell, Heather Morris, Gerard Canonico and Naya Rivera have also made claims about Lea's behaviour.

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