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More Lea Michele Co-Stars Share Nightmare Stories Working With Her

Lea Michele's former understudy claims she 'threatened to have people fired' on set when she was just 12.

More Lea Michele Co-Stars Share Nightmare Stories Working With Her

Lea Michele was a "nightmare" to work with, according to a former co-star.

Actor Gerard Canonico, 30 — who was an understudy in the original Broadway cast of Spring Awakening starring Lea and Jonathan Groff — blasted Lea, 33, for treating him and others like they "didn't belong".

He commented on Lea's Instagram: "You were nothing but a nightmare to me and fellow understudy cast members. You made us feel like we didn't belong there.

"I tried for years to be nice to you to no avail. Maybe actually apologise instead of placing the blame on how others 'perceive' you."

Gerard's comments came after Lea issued an apology to former workmates following Glee co-star Samantha Marie Ware's revelation that Lea had "tormented" her for years.

Samantha, 28, tweeted: "LMAO REMEMBER WHEN YOU MADE MY FIRST TELEVISON GIG A LIVING HELL?!?! CAUSE ILL NEVER FORGET. I BELIEVE YOU TOLD EVERYONE THAT IF TOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY YOU WOULD "'S**T IN MY WIG!' AMONGST OTHER TRAUMATIC MICROAGRESSIONS THAT MADE ME QUESTION A CAREER IN HOLLYWOOD... (sic)."

While Lea did not refer to Samantha or any other co-stars by name, she said she was sorry for how her actions were "perceived".

Lea wrote on Instagram: "While I don't remember ever making this specific statement 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 which hurt other people.

"Whether it was my privileged position and perspective that caused me to be perceived as insensitive or inappropriate at times or whether it was just my immaturity and me just being unnecessarily difficult, I apologise for my behaviour and for any pain which I have caused.

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

Samantha did not directly reply to Lea's apology but wrote on Twitter: "Perceived? Purcieved? Purse? Open your purse?????????????? (sic)", and she shared a link to a GoFundMe for the family of James Scurlock, a 22-year-old black man who was shot and killed in Omaha while protesting.

Meanwhile, other stars have come forward to expose Lea, with Real Housewives of New York star Aviva Drescher commenting: "You were once very unkind to me so I am not surprised by your behaviour. You shouldn't judge others before looking in the mirror."

Actress Emma Hunton — who also starred in Spring Awakening — added: "This isn't an apology."

Elsewhere, Elizabeth Aldrich, who worked alongside Lea on musical Ragtime in the late '90s, has slammed her for being "absolutely awful" and "demeaning" on set — and Lea was just 12-years-old then.

Elizabeth has claimed Lea "threatened" to have people fired on the set of the music, despite not even being a teenager. She said: "I was [Lea's understudy] in 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."

And Elizabeth is hopeful these claims will make Lea take a "real hard look" at herself and changes her ways.

She added in a post on Twitter: "Absolutely agreed. Of course, I was only 10, but even my friends who worked with her on [Spring Awakening] felt intimidated coming forward. Actors are often silenced but I'm glad her abuse has been brought to light and hope that she takes a real hard look at herself and ameliorates her ways."

— BANG

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