Laura Benanti Slams Zachary Levi for Using Broadway Costar Gavin Creel's Death for His 'Political Agenda': 'Never Liked Him'

Mar. 15, 2025

(L-R) Laura Benanti; Zachary Levi; Gavin Creel.Photo:Michael Loccisano/WireImage; Amy Sussman/Getty; Manny Carabel/Getty

Michael Loccisano/WireImage; Amy Sussman/Getty; Manny Carabel/Getty

Laura Benantiis letting her feelings aboutZachary Levibe known.

Benanti, 45, candidly addressed her feelings about herShe Loves Mecostar, 44, along with her sentiments about how Levi handled their fellow costarGavin Creel’s death, during an appearance on Wednesday, Dec. 4 edition of theThat’s a Gay Ass Podcast.

“I never liked him,” Benanti said of Levi. “Everyone was like, ‘He’s so great!’ And I was like, ‘No, he’s not. He’s sucking up all the f—— energy in this room. He wants to mansplain everybody’s part to them.”

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Laura Benanti and Zachary Levi attend the ‘Boys In The Band’ 50th Anniversary Celebration at Booth Theatre on May 30, 2018.Nicholas Hunt/Getty

Nicholas Hunt/Getty

Benanti said that Levi tried to get the cast to do a dance party every night, which she says she wanted no part of.

“He really sucked everybody in with his like dance party energy,” she continued. “Like, ‘We’re doing a dance party at half-hour.’ I was like, ‘Good luck. Have fun.’ "

But it was the way Levi responded to their costar Gavin Creel’s death that greatly upset her.

Creel died onMonday, Sept. 30, at the age of 48amid treatment for a rare and aggressive form of cancer called metastatic melanotic peripheral nerve sheath sarcoma. The cancer develops in the body’s bones or soft tissues, such as muscles, fat, blood vessels, and nerves. Creel was diagnosed just months prior in July.

During an October Instagram Live following Creel’s death, Levi implied that Creel died as a result of the COVID vaccine, perDeadline.

Gavin Creel poses at the ‘Thoroughly Modern Millie’ 15th Anniversary Reunion Concert After Party at Opry City Stage on February 12, 2018.Bruce Glikas/Bruce Glikas/WireImage

Bruce Glikas/Bruce Glikas/WireImage

“For [Levi] to use [Creel’s] memory – a person he was not friends with — to use his memory for his political agenda and to watch him try to make himself cry until he had one single tear, which he did not wipe away, I was like, ‘F— you forever,’ " said Benanti.

The actress added that she believes Levi’s conservative views will help him in the future.

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“He’s going to be a huge f—– star in that realm,” she continued. “He’s going to make more money than he ever has.It makes me nauseous, but also a little bit, like, ‘I told you, motherf——.' "

Representatives for Levi did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

source: people.com