Kevin McHale criticises 'Glee curse' comments about late cast members

Kevin McHale criticised social media posts describing deaths of 'Glee' cast members as 'curse' or 'sacrifice'

Kevin McHale has appeared to criticise social media users who continue to describe the deaths of several Glee cast members as evidence of a "curse" surrounding the television series.

The actor, who played Artie Abrams in the musical drama, shared a message on X on July 29 addressing comments that refer to the deaths of former cast members as a "sacrifice" or part of a supposed curse.

Although McHale did not mention Glee or any of his late co-stars by name, the post appeared to reference the long-running online discussion.

"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---ing diabolical and untethered from any sort of humanity or reality," McHale wrote. "Get f---ed."

The post prompted responses from users, with many expressing support for McHale’s comments. One user wrote that "real tragedies aren't plot devices" and said that turning deaths into television mythology risks erasing the fact that those involved were "actual people with families, friends, and lives beyond the entertainment people consumed." Others questioned why the "curse" narrative continues to circulate online.

The discussion relates to the deaths of three Glee cast members. Cory Monteith, who portrayed Finn Hudson, died from a heroin overdose in 2013 at the age of 31.

Mark Salling, who played Noah "Puck" Puckerman, died in 2018 at 35 from an apparent suicide weeks before his sentencing after pleading guilty to possessing child pornography.

Naya Rivera, who played Santana Lopez, died in 2020 at the age of 33 after accidentally drowning during a boating trip with her son.

McHale has previously spoken about how the cast has coped with their losses. During a 2023 episode of the Glee rewatch podcast And That's What You Really Missed, he said humour had become one way for the cast to process their grief, while co-host Jenna Ushkowitz added, "We've all worked through it in therapy."