Glee Stars Turned Feud Rumors Into On-Screen Drama, Podcast Reveals

Former Glee cast members Kevin McHale and Jenna Ushkowitz revealed that Lea Michele and Naya Rivera turned rumors of their behind-the-scenes feud into a playful opportunity for the show. The duo discussed the ninth episode of Glee’s fifth season, titled “Frenemies,” on their rewatch podcast, And That’s What You Really Missed.

The episode, which originally aired in February 2014, featured Michele’s character Rachel Berry and Rivera’s Santana Lopez clashing over Santana’s audition to be Rachel’s understudy in the Broadway production of Funny Girl. McHale suggested the storyline was intentionally crafted to mirror real-life rumors of tension between the two actresses.

“I don’t see how it was not intentional that they’re going at it in this episode in such a specific way when there were, like, rumors out in the world that they didn’t get along,” McHale said. He added that Michele and Rivera likely embraced the narrative for the sake of the show, saying, “You know, they would have loved that s—. Like, Naya and Lea were probably like, ‘Yeah, let’s do this.’”

Rivera, who passed away in 2020, addressed the rumors in her 2016 memoir, Sorry Not Sorry. She described her relationship with Michele as “two sides of the same battery,” acknowledging their competitive natures but downplaying the severity of their alleged feud. “As the show progressed, though, that friendship started to break down, especially as Santana moved from a background character to one with bigger plot lines and more screen time,” Rivera wrote.

McHale also described the episode as “fan service,” noting that Michele and Rivera played into the rumors to entertain viewers. “Oh, you think they hate each other? Let’s give it to you,” he said. “And it works because they’re also playing into it. It’s like they’re in on the gag of it all.”

The podcast episode offers a fresh perspective on one of Glee’s most talked-about dynamics, highlighting how the cast navigated rumors and speculation during the show’s run. Fans of the series continue to celebrate the legacy of Rivera and the show’s impact on pop culture.