Kevin McHale posted on X July 29, saying “Let me log off today because the way too many of you talk about real people who have passed as a ‘sacrifice’ or a ‘curse’ in regards to a tv show is f–king diabolical and untethered from any sort of humanity or reality.”
McHale also posted “Get f–ked.”
The actor voiced his displeasure with certain parts of the TV show fandom for their belief that a Glee “curse” exists following the deaths of his costars Cory Monteith, Mark Salling and Naya Rivera.
Though the idea of an apparent curse on those involved with the Fox series—which ran from 2009 to 2015—has long circulated around the internet, it picked up traction with the release 2023 docuseries The Price of Glee.
McHale previously shared on the Elvis Duran Show in 2024, “We make jokes about a curse, which makes a lot of people uncomfortable.”
He explained “We make jokes about a curse, which makes a lot of people uncomfortable. The amount of times we’ve said some things that everyone gets really quiet, like, ‘No, no, you don’t understand if we don’t laugh about this, like we will all just be sad because it’s insane.”
Meanwhile, Ryan Murphy, Glee’s co-creator, has recently teased the possibility of rebooting the beloved series.
During Monday’s red carpet premiere for his new show, “The Shards,” the TV producer touched on a possible reboot of the musical dramedy, which ran on Fox between 2009 and 2015. With the show nearing its 20th anniversary, Murphy expressed to People that he “loved” all of the memories he made making the show.
“That show is interesting because it’s come back around. So many young people now watch it. And I’m like, ‘Maybe we should revisit that show,'” Murphy told People.
He continued, “My nostalgia and love for that show is enough that I’m like, ‘Well, maybe people would like to see a new incarnation of that in some capacity.’ So yeah, I love that show, and I loved what it became and what it meant to so many people.”
The renewed interest in Glee among younger audiences has fueled this conversation.
With younger viewers who’ve come to know “Glee” thanks to streaming, Murphy expressed that “So many young people now watch it.”
McHale’s harsh criticism targets what he views as disrespectful discourse around real tragedies. The actor remains protective of his late costars’ legacies and their families’ privacy.
In the viral moment that sparked McHale’s outburst, fans online had been circulating theories about a so-called “Glee curse” linked to the untimely deaths of three major cast members over the years.
The three-part docuseries The Price of Glee looked back at the three prominent deaths from the show’s cast, starting with Monteith, who died from a drug overdose in 2013.
Cory Monteith struggled with substance addictions for much of his life, and tragically, on July 13, 2013, at the age of 31, he was found dead in his Vancouver hotel room due to a combined heroin and alcohol toxicity.
Mark Salling was a main cast member on Glee and died by suicide in 2018 at the age of 35. At the time of his death he was awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to possession of child pornography.
Rivera, who played glee club member and cheerleader Santana Lopez on Glee, drowned in California’s Lake Piru July 8, 2020 during a boating trip with her son Josey, now 7. The actress was 33.
The 2023 docuseries renewed public fixation on the “curse” narrative, examining the tragedies surrounding the cast.
The docuseries noted that the deaths were not isolated to the cast, with the idea of the “curse” reaching Glee’s crew as well. It highlighted how a number of people behind the scenes of the comedy have died unexpectedly since the show’s debut.
The remaining cast and crew of the show don’t put much stock in the curse idea, with McHale having previously dismissed the idea.
His latest X post represents an escalation of that frustration, calling out fans who treat the deaths as entertainment or mystical punishment.
“I don’t believe in curses. I am not superstitious,”
McHale said on the Elvis Duran Show. McHale co-hosts a rewatch podcast with fellow Glee castmate Jenna Ushkowitz called “And That’s What You REALLY Missed,” which examines the show’s six seasons with both humor and emotional honesty.
Murphy’s recent comments suggest a possible new chapter for the franchise. The show’s streaming resurgence, particularly among Gen Z audiences discovering it for the first time, has reignited interest in new “Glee” content. Whether that manifests as a reboot, continuation, or spin-off remains uncertain.
Ryan was asked about a potential reboot at the premiere of his new show The Shards.
The enthusiasm he expressed indicates the door remains open, though no official project has been greenlit.