Sopranos Actor Michael Imperioli Personally Removes Protestor Who Interrupted His Broadway Show

Jennifer Bowers BahneyMar 15th, 2024, 7:04 pm

Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

Sopranos star Michael Imperioli helped remove a climate protester from his Broadway play.

Imperioli, who played Christopher Moltisante in the mob classic The Sopranos was on stage in the midst of the Henrik Ibsen play Enemy of the People, when an audience member began to make his way down the venue’s aisle, shouting about the dangers of climate change.

The man, who identified as a member of the group “Extinction Rebellion,” also claimed he was a “theater artist” who was “sorry to interrupt “this amazing performance.”

Imperioli yelled, “I’m sorry, you need to leave! You’re interrupting — ” while another person shouted, “Get him out!”

The man continued shouting about “poisoned water” as some of the cast members, including Imperioli, left the stage to physically remove the man from the theater. Two more protesters took over until they, too, were ejected.

Afterwards, ExtinctionRebellionNYC posted the scene to their X (formerly Twitter) account.

“Rebels disrupted #AnEnemyOfThePeople on #Broadway. #Climate activists aren’t the enemy; it’s fossil fuel criminals like Exxon & Chevron. If we don’t #EndFossilFuels now, there’ll be #NoTheatreOnADeadPlanet,” they posted.

🚨#BREAKING – Rebels disrupted #AnEnemyOfThePeople on #Broadway. #Climate activists aren’t the enemy; it’s fossil fuel criminals like Exxon & Chevron. If we don’t #EndFossilFuels now, there’ll be #NoTheatreOnADeadPlanet [THREAD] pic.twitter.com/9oFHSrzAMb

— Extinction Rebellion NYC 🌎 (@XR_NYC) March 15, 2024

That post was followed by two more explaining why they targeted Imperioli’s play:

2/ In the play, Doctor Thomas Stockmann (#JeremyStrong) exposes the contamination of the town’s public bathwater, risking community health, and faces repercussions. Sadly, this mirrors reality #FreeTheDegasTwo

3/ Activists are facing harsh sentences for nonviolent protest. Joanna Smith and Tim Martin protested at the National Gallery of Art to highlight the climate crisis. They face up to ten years in prison and fines of $500,000.

Imperioli took to his Instagram after the incident, posting, “Tonight was wild….no hard feelings extinction rebellion crew Michael is on your side but mayor stockmann is not. Much love.”