Lea Michele finally debunks rumors she's illiterate -- with proof -- on podcast
Share this @internewscast.com

Watch it and weep.

Lea Michele finally addressed the longstanding rumor she can’t read on Thursday’s “Therapuss” podcast episode.

The actress was surprised to find herself still addressing the rumors “all these years later.” To dispel doubts about her literacy, she took host Jake Shane’s flashcards and read from them as proof.

“Give me [those],” the “Scream Queens” alum, 38, declared, holding out her hands. “I’m reading them.

“Jonathan [Groff] isn’t here to read me this s–t,” she continued, referencing her “Spring Awakening” co-star. “Okay, ready?”

Michele recited, “I placed first in my debate competition and qualified for nationals. But after looking at the score sheets, I’m not sure if I deserved the win. Should I speak up or simply accept the victory?”

However, she predicted there would be theories Shane “called her in advance” to have her “memorize” the cards.

The “Glee” alum claimed she has “photographic memory too,” which is how she “memorized all those” lines for her character, Rachel Berry.

She added, “For everyone who thinks that I can’t f–king read, I was on the debate team. I would write speeches.”

Shane interrupted Michele to insist, “I know you can read!”

As for whether the “wild” rumors bother her, the Broadway star admitted that it “depends on the day” but can sometimes feel “sad and frustrating.”

She shared, “I’m one of the few women in my family to have been accepted to college. My mother and her whole family faced significant poverty in the Bronx and weren’t very well educated. My parents moved me from the Bronx to New Jersey to ensure I received a quality education and prospered, and that’s exactly what happened.”

The singer finds it “crazy that people care enough … that they would make up something” and have “so little to do in their life in their day” other than doubt her reading ability.

The speculation first went viral in 2017, with Michele revealing Ryan Murphy was the one to alert her to the chatter.

Groff, 40, was asked about Michele’s reading ability seven years later on the “Tactful Pettiness” podcast.

“I have seen her read,” the actor clarified in the October 2024 interview. “Let it be known. We’re dispelling it.”

The previous year, Michele poked fun at the rumors via TikTok when news broke that Barbra Streisand was publishing a memoir.

“265 days to learn to read,” the Emmy nominee quipped in the playful February 2023 upload.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Soccer matches postponed after Mexico kills Cartel leader near World Cup host city

Cartel Leader’s Death Leads to Soccer Match Delays Near World Cup Venue in Mexico

Four professional soccer games in Mexico were postponed on Sunday following a…
Robert Carradine, 'Revenge of the Nerds' and 'Lizzie McGuire' actor, dies at 71

Renowned Actor Robert Carradine, Star of ‘Revenge of the Nerds’ and ‘Lizzie McGuire,’ Passes Away at 71

LOS ANGELES (KABC) — Renowned actor Robert Carradine, celebrated for his performances…
Police release video of suspect in murder of millionaire philanthropist at DC-area assisted living home

Police Seek Public’s Help: Video Released of Suspect in Shocking Murder of Millionaire Philanthropist at DC Assisted Living Facility

Authorities have released a surveillance video as they seek public assistance in…
DNA is still pending as volunteers find another glove in the search for Nancy Guthrie

Volunteers Discover New Clue in Ongoing Search for Nancy Guthrie: Second Glove Found, DNA Results Awaited

In Tucson, Arizona, a group of more than a dozen volunteers gathered…
Terrifying reason crime-plagued Moreno Valley mall was partially shut down

Shocking Discovery Forces Partial Closure of Moreno Valley Mall Amid Crime Concerns

A Southern California shopping center, plagued by past incidents involving gunfire, teen…
Trump makes first comments on Mar-a-Lago intruder Austin Tucker Martin shot dead

Trump Speaks Out on Mar-a-Lago Security Incident Involving Austin Martin

President Trump has finally addressed the incident involving a gun-toting intruder who…
Mexican cartel kingpin 'El Mencho' was taken out after authorities tracked mistress to secret love nest

Authorities Dismantle Cartel Kingpin ‘El Mencho’ by Following Trail to Hidden Hideaway

Authorities announced on Monday that Mexico’s infamous cartel leader was tracked down…
Grandfather-to-be identified as one of six Tahoe avalanche survivors

Grandfather-to-Be Among Six Rescued in Tahoe Avalanche Incident

A man soon to become a grandfather has been identified as one…
Goon busted after NYC man found bashed to death in apartment: cops

NYC Murder Mystery Solved: Suspect Arrested in Brutal Apartment Homicide

A brutal assailant mercilessly struck a 44-year-old man in the head inside…
Terrifying moment father of three is kidnapped, slain and dumped on the highway in mistaken identity

Shocking Case of Mistaken Identity: Father of Three Tragically Kidnapped and Killed

In a harrowing case of mistaken identity, a cherished father of three…
Asking Eric: Aunt is disinvited from wedding ceremony, but still expected at reception

Wedding Dilemma: Should You Attend a Reception After Being Uninvited from the Ceremony?

Dear Eric, My niece is set to tie the knot this fall,…
Firebug busted with homemade Molotov cocktails after 36-hour blaze-setting streak: police

Police apprehend arson suspect in possession of homemade Molotov cocktails following 36-hour fire-setting spree

A woman from Texas has been taken into custody after allegedly igniting…