Lea Michele recently reflected on the lasting effects of the 2013 death of her boyfriend and Glee co-star Cory Monteith, revealing how the tragedy deeply affected her relationships with the cast.
Speaking candidly on the Therapuss podcast with Jake Shane, Michele said the loss left her feeling isolated on set rather than bringing the cast closer together. When asked if the group became “very tight-knit” after Monteith’s passing, she replied, “No,” explaining, “I think in some ways it did for certain people, but I think that, for me, it was so hard. I just completely broke.” She shared that she focused on her work, finding it difficult to process grief at such a young age.
Michele played Rachel Berry, while Monteith portrayed Finn Hudson on the Fox show. The couple had been dating for about a year before Monteith died of a heroin overdose at age 31 in a Vancouver hotel room. During that difficult time, Michele said she leaned heavily on the behind-the-scenes crew for support. “The [crew members] were holding me up so much as well as the people who were on the show,” she said, noting that many cast members had already left, which made it harder.
She admitted feeling pressured not to take time off to grieve, explaining that missing work could affect others’ livelihoods. “It was a lot of pressure,” she said. “I had to put my own feelings aside to ensure everyone could continue working.”
Michele’s remarks come amid her ongoing efforts to reflect on her Glee years and the challenging reputation she developed afterward—a period she described as “sad and depressing.” In 2020, former castmate Samantha Ware accused Michele of making her experience on set a “living hell.” Other cast members, including Heather Morris and Amber Riley, also spoke out about their negative experiences.
Michele publicly apologized for her past behavior and has since worked to redefine herself. In a 2023 Interview magazine feature, she said it’s been helpful to have a chance to reintroduce herself to the public.
On the podcast, Michele also addressed a long-running internet rumor with humor, joking, “I can read,” ending the persistent joke about her being illiterate.
