In a new interview, Kristin Chenoweth asserted she is “not a political person,” though she confirmed she voted for and endorsed Kamala Harris in the last presidential election. “Anybody that knows me knows how I believe.”
Poised to make her Broadway comeback in the Stephen Schwartz–helmed musical adaptation of the documentary The Queen of Versailles, opening Nov. 9, yet the Emmy- and Tony-winner remains tight-lipped about the controversy surrounding her recent commentary on the shooting of far-right commentator Charlie Kirk telling the The Hollywood Reporter.
When pressed about the backlash she has received from the LGBTQ+ community following remarks that she “appreciated some perspectives” from Kirk after his death, Chenoweth declined further comment. “It was tough on me, but I’m not going to answer any questions about it because I dealt with it. It nearly broke me, and that’s all I’m going to say,” she said. “You probably know my heart, so you probably know.”
The remarks sparked criticism from many within the LGBTQ+ community given Kirk’s history of controversial commentary, he had advocated for burning LGBTQ+ flags and stated that “God’s perfect law when it comes to sexual matters” includes stoning gay people. The shooting occurred Sept. 10 during a debate at Utah Valley University.
Chenoweth, who has long supported the LGBTQ+ community and identified as an ally, also acknowledged the emotional impact of the backlash in a September interview with Spectrum News. “I saw what happened online with my own eyes. And I had a human moment of reflection, just right then. I came to understand that my comment hurt some folks and that hurt me so bad. I would never …” she began, wiping away tears.
She went on to reaffirm both her Christian faith and her advocacy: “It’s no secret that I have been … that I’m a Christian, that I’m a person of faith,” she said. “It’s also no secret that I am an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. And for some, that doesn’t go together. But for me, it always has, and it always will.”
As she returns to Broadway, Chenoweth now moves forward amid both career momentum and personal reflection, navigating the intersection of public life, support for marginalized communities and the weight of past statements.
