Glee<\/em> alum finally confronted the persistent online joke questioning her ability to read, expressing that she finds it \u201cso sad and so frustrating.\u201d<\/p>\nFor years, Michele has been the subject of a viral internet theory suggesting she never learned to read. On Therapuss<\/em>, she took the opportunity to set the record straight about her reading and writing capabilities, highlighting her academic achievements.<\/p>\n\u201cFor everyone who thinks that I can\u2019t fucking read, I was on the debate team,\u201d Michele told Shane. \u201cI would write speeches.\u201d<\/p>\nLOS ANGELES \u2013 SEP 20: Lea Michele at the Hollywood Reporter & SAG-AFTRA 3rd Annual Emmy Nominees Night at the Avra Beverly Hills on September 20, 2019 in Beverly Hills, CA. Photo credit: depositphotos.com <\/figcaption><\/figure>\nMichele has previously played along with the joke. In February of 2023, she shared a playful TikTok about her excitement to read Barbra Streisand<\/strong>\u2018s memoir, My Name Is Barbra<\/em>. The post featured Michele appearing overwhelmed while displaying a screenshot of the book announcement, captioned: \u201c265 days to learn to READ!!!!\u201d<\/p>\nHowever, her feelings about the joke are complicated. When Shane inquired whether she loved or hated it, the Funny Girl<\/em> star admitted that \u201cit depends on the day.\u201d \u201cSometimes I think it\u2019s crazy that people care enough about me that they would make up something. That someone has so little to do in their life\u2014in their day\u2014that they would waste it on me is hilarious to me. And then there are moments where I fucking get so frustrated by it because I\u2019m one of the only women in my whole family to get accepted to college.\u201d<\/p>\nPhoto credit: depositphotos.com <\/figcaption><\/figure>\nMichele shared that her maternal family came from humble beginnings in the Bronx, being \u201cextremely poor\u201d and \u201cnot very well educated.\u201d Her parents relocated to New Jersey specifically to provide her with better educational opportunities. \u201cFor someone to minimize that, it\u2019s so sad and so frustrating,\u201d she explained. \u201cIt\u2019s wild. It\u2019s really wild. It\u2019s a crazy thing.\u201d Though Michele earned acceptance to New York University\u2019s prestigious Tisch School of the Arts, she opted not to attend due to her burgeoning career.<\/p>\n
Michele recounted the first time she encountered the rumor. \u201cI\u2019ll never forget\u2014the same day that that all came out, Donald Trump<\/strong> said he was gonna punch John McCain in the face or something like that,\u201d she said. \u201cIt was 2015 and he said something so wild, but what was trending online more was \u2018Lea Michele can\u2019t read.’\u201d She then received a call from Glee<\/em> producer Ryan Murphy.<\/strong> \u201cRyan Murphy called me and he was like, \u2018Have you heard this rumor?\u2019 And I was like, \u2018No, what\u2019s going on?’\u201d<\/p>\nLea Michele attends the 2017 Summer TCA Tour Disney ABC Television Group at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on August 6, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nDetermined to prove her literacy once and for all, Michele grabbed Shane\u2019s notecards and began reading them out loud. She playfully stumbled over one word, then immediately addressed the inevitable skepticism: \u201cOh my gosh, here come the theories,\u201d she quipped. \u201cThey\u2019ll say, \u2018Jake totally prepped her. This proves nothing. She memorized everything. She saw the cards beforehand. This isn\u2019t real evidence.’\u201d<\/p>\n
She brought up her bestie and Spring Awakening<\/em> co-star Jonathan Groff<\/strong>, referencing his defense of her in a previous interview: \u201cJonathan did this podcast where someone asked, \u2018Can Lea actually read?\u2019 and I loved his response. He was like, \u2018Seriously? You think she can\u2019t? What does that say about you?’\u201d Michele added with a laugh: \u201cPlus, I have a photographic memory. How else do you think I nailed all those Rachel Berry monologues?\u201d Lea Michele can read. End of story.<\/p>\n\n\n
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