Chris Colfer Reignites the Lea Michele “Can’t Read” Meme

In the vast universe of internet culture, few celebrity rumors have proven as persistent or as bizarre as the theory that actress and singer Lea Michele cannot read. Born on social media and fueled by podcasts, memes, and viral tweets, the “Lea Michele can’t read” meme has become a peculiar fixture in pop culture since its inception in the late 2010s. Most recently, the joke resurfaced after Chris Colfer—Michele’s former Glee castmate and a prominent LGBTQ+ figure—made a pointed quip at a University of California event, reigniting debate and laughter across social media platforms .

The theory first took off in 2018, when podcasters Jaye Hunt and Robert Ackerman released a 40-minute satirical video titled “Lea Michele Is Illiterate” on their show, One More Thing . The video—intended as a comedic riff—suggested that Michele, who began performing on Broadway as a child, wouldn’t have had time to learn to read or write. The internet, hungry for outlandish content, quickly embraced the premise. Social media users dissected Michele’s behavior, from her book signings (where her pen allegedly “hovered” above the page) to her sparse use of words in Instagram captions.

As the theory spread, it became a running joke within fandoms and meme culture. Some speculated that Ryan Murphy, creator of Glee, had to read lines to Michele on set, while others claimed her assistants managed anything requiring reading or writing .

The Glee cast—many of whom are LGBTQ+ or strong allies—have played a significant role in shaping the rumor’s cultural life. Notably, Chris Colfer, who portrayed Kurt Hummel and has been a visible and influential gay celebrity, recently poked fun at Michele during an appearance at the University of California. Responding to a question about the meme, Colfer quipped, “It’s never too late,” a remark widely interpreted as a playful jab at the reading conspiracy .

Colfer’s comment was received with laughter and immediately circulated on social platforms, demonstrating the meme’s enduring appeal. The Glee fandom, recognized for its vibrant LGBTQ+ community, has often used humor and inside jokes to build solidarity, push back against celebrity culture, and challenge traditional narratives of fame and talent. While the Michele meme is not inherently tied to LGBTQ+ issues, its propagation within a queer-heavy fanbase has given it a unique flavor, blending camp, irony, and an understanding of how internet culture can both uplift and lampoon public figures .

Despite the meme’s persistence, Michele has repeatedly addressed, denied, and occasionally laughed off the rumor. In 2018, she tweeted, “Loved READING this tweet and wanted to WRITE you back. Literally laughing out loud at all this. Love you!!” before deleting her Twitter account in 2020 .

In a 2022 Rolling Stone interview, Michele expressed frustration at the rumor, questioning whether gender bias played a role in its longevity: “I went to Glee every single day; I knew my lines every single day. And then there’s a rumour online that I can’t read or write? It’s sad. It really is. I think often if I were a man, a lot of this wouldn’t be the case” .

Most recently, in May 2025, Michele appeared on Jake Shane’s podcast, Therapuss, and forcefully set the record straight: “For everyone who thinks that I can’t fucking read, I was on the debate team. I would write speeches” .

She went further, explaining that her ability to read was never in doubt and that the rumor sometimes makes her laugh and other times deeply frustrates her. “Sometimes I think it’s crazy that people care enough about me that they would make up something… And then there are moments where I fucking get so frustrated by it because I’m one of the only women in my whole family to get accepted to college” .