LEA REACHES OUT TO GWYNETH
She’s calling in the big guns to fight her corner
She’s seen her reputation torn apart, as her former co-stars slammed her on-set “bullying” and diva antics. But Lea Michele isn’t about to go down without a fight. According to insiders, the actress is calling in favours from the top – starting with Gwyneth Paltrow.
“Lea knows she’s messed up. She’s not trying to excuse some of her terrible past behaviour,” says an insider close to the 33 year old, who last week issued an apology after former Glee co-star Samantha Ware said she’d made her first TV gig “a living hell” – prompting more people to speak out against her. “But she’s determined to get her career back. Lea figures that if someone as high profile as Gwyneth stands up for her, it will have a positive influence on the rest of Hollywood.”
Lea and Gwyneth go way back – Gwyn’s husband Brad Falchuk co-created Glee and Scream Queens (both starring Lea) and has longbeen her friend and mentor, while Gwyn herself got close to Lea when she guest starred in Glee. The insider adds that Gwyn knows what it’s like to be on the receiving end of negative press (we all know how divisive and controversial her lifestyle site Goop can be). With this in mind, we’re told, Lea, who’s currently seven months pregnant, is hoping that Gwyneth will sympathise with her plight and speak out. The big question is, will Gwyn oblige?
“Gwyneth does think the claims are shocking, because she never got the impression Lea was a diva,” says our source. “She might say something to that effect, but it’s more likely she’ll work behind the scenes to get people off Lea’s back.” ■