More Broadway legends slam chain-smoking disappointment Zachary Levi for Gavin Creel disrespect

Zachary Levi, known for his role in Shazam, stirred up quite a controversy recently by going live on Instagram and sharing false information about the COVID-19 vaccine, particularly concerning the death of his former She Loves Me co-star, Gavin Creel. Creel, a celebrated Broadway actor, tragically passed away at 48 after being diagnosed with a rare and aggressive cancer earlier this year. Following Levi’s claims, several prominent figures from Broadway took to social media to call him out for his insensitive remarks.

Creel was diagnosed with a rare type of cancer called sarcoma just a few months before his death in September. Since the COVID-19 vaccines were rolled out, skeptics like Levi have claimed that the shots could cause various side effects, including so-called “turbo cancers.” However, reputable organizations like the National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society have stated there’s no evidence to support such claims.

In his live session, Levi suggested that if COVID vaccinations hadn’t been mandatory, Creel would still be alive today. He noted that Broadway had a vaccine mandate for cast and crew, similar to many other industries, but dropped this requirement in June 2023.

Levi acknowledged that his comments might offend people, saying, “I know that this is going to offend some people and make some people mad, and I wish it didn’t.” True to his words, many were outraged. Norbert Leo Butz, Creel’s co-star in Wicked, expressed his disappointment, stating, “I tried to give you the benefit of the doubt, but I was utterly heartbroken that you felt the need to use [Creel’s] life to promote this awful platform.”

Publicist Lisa Goldberg also spoke out, criticizing Levi for his disrespectful comments. She passionately stated, “Who do you think you are talking about Gavin Creel like this? To say Gavin (or anyone) got stage 4 cancer and died because of a vaccine? The absolute disrespect to Gavin’s memory, his friends & family, to science, to medicine.” She added that it was appalling to spread such misinformation, especially considering the struggles many face with cancer and the grief surrounding Creel’s loss.

Other Broadway performers chimed in as well. Jenna Leigh Green, another of Creel’s co-stars, lamented Levi’s departure from decency, asking, “What has happened to you?” Musical theater composer Bobby Cronin bluntly called Levi a “Total POS” for exploiting Creel’s death for attention. Actress Ellyn Marsh even stated, “You were the worst part of She Loves Me,” while photographer Evan Zimmerman recalled how Levi’s smoking habit made things difficult on set.

Zachary Levi is no stranger to controversy. He has previously supported Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who shares his views on vaccines, and has since endorsed Donald Trump. His views have led to his virtual exile from Hollywood, prompting him to relocate to Texas, a state that aligns more with his alt-right tendencies.

Playwright Paul Rudnick criticized Levi’s comments about Creel, calling him “repulsive” and highlighting the contradiction in claiming to be a friend of Creel while supporting a homophobic candidate. In his Instagram comments, Levi insisted that Creel was healthy before his diagnosis and suggested that his cancer seemed to appear out of nowhere. However, reports indicate that Creel had a type of sarcoma known as metastatic melanotic peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST), which is extremely rare and linked to genetic predispositions like neurofibromatosis type 1.

Levi’s misguided claims have drawn sharp criticism from the Broadway community, reminding us of the importance of basing health discussions on credible evidence rather than unfounded theories.