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Michael Imperioli remains in character while ejecting an activist disrupting a Broadway performance

Extinction Rebellion crashed "An Enemy of the People" on Broadway and Imperioli handled it like a Moltisanti

Senior Culture Editor

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Michael Imperioli attends the HBO & Max Post Emmys Reception at San Vicente Bungalows on January 15, 2024 in West Hollywood, California. (FilmMagic.com/FilmMagic for HBO & Max)
Michael Imperioli attends the HBO & Max Post Emmys Reception at San Vicente Bungalows on January 15, 2024 in West Hollywood, California. (FilmMagic.com/FilmMagic for HBO & Max)

Members of a climate justice group called Extinction Rebellion created a disturbance mid-way through a Broadway performance of "An Enemy of the People" on Thursday and a star in the play, Michael Imperioli ("The Sopranos," "The White Lotus"), took matters in his own hands to personally eject one of the activists, all while remaining in character.

According to coverage of the fracas by various outlets, as well as videos from all angles posted to social media by a number of attendees, the group made themselves known during a scene featuring "Succession" actor Jeremy Strong, shouting out, “There is no Broadway on a dead planet.” And as things escalated, with one activist identifying himself as a theater artist, Imperioli shouted back, “Go back to drama school!” 

Exiting the stage to help security push out one of the activists, Imperioli earned a hoot of “Christopher!,” from a woman seated for the event, in reference to his character on "The Sopranos," Christopher Moltisanti.

"Tonight was wild," the actor wrote in a post to Instagram in response to the disruption. "No hard feelings Extinction Rebellion crew. Michael is on your side but Mayor Stockmann is not," creating a distinction between himself and his character in the Henrik Ibsen revival.

 

 

 

 

 

By Kelly McClure

Kelly McClure is Salon's Senior Culture Editor, where she helps further coverage of TV, film, music, books and culture trends from a unique and thoughtful angle. Her work has also appeared in Vulture, Vanity Fair, Vice and many other outlets that don't start with the letter V. She is the author of one sad book called "Something Is Always Happening Somewhere." Follow her on Bluesky: @WolfieVibes

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