Betty battles the sickest E. coli infection
The glamour of Broadway meets the bohemian spirit of music festivals, but for Australian singer and actor Betty Who, the weekend proved to be less about dazzling lights and more about a very unwelcome, and incredibly memorable, biological experience.
While attending the inaugural three-day Coachella For Broadway event in New York’s Hudson Valley, Betty found herself sidelined by a very nasty bout of E. coli.
The 34-year-old artist, born Jessica Newham, had planned to be a central figure at the celebration, scheduled to perform, host a late-night campfire sing-along, and premiere her musical Love Somebody. However, before she could fully dive into the festivities, she realized she needed to hit the pause button.
“I was feeling sick before I left for @thebroadwayfest, and when I landed in New York, I knew something was wrong and that I needed a doctor,” she shared. The unexpected detour meant missing out on the vibrant musical theater stars—including Audra McDonald, Kelli O’Hara, and the original Rent cast—that made the festival so unique.
The festival itself was a glittering showcase, featuring a galaxy of musical talent overlooking the Hudson River. But the real star of the weekend became the unexpected bodily rebellion. The infection, which the Cleveland Clinic identifies as a group of bacteria that can cause infections in the gut, often manifests with watery diarrhea, stomach pain, and vomiting.
Despite the physical discomfort and the deep disappointment of missing so much of the celebrated event, Who took a remarkably lighthearted approach to the ordeal. She described the experience as something utterly wild, even joking that she was now drinking broth and finding a strange sense of freedom.
“I’m so sad about missing so much of the festival,” she admitted, “but I realized something cool. I’m finally able to keep water down and I’m drinking broth! I am so much better than I was when I was in New York, and I’m feeling pretty great now.”
While she battled the digestive discomfort, Betty kept her schedule moving. She even managed to stay engaged with the action, taking time to focus on her recovery and enjoying some on-court action at the Cincinnati Open tennis tournament, proving that even when faced with a gastrointestinal adventure, resilience is always in style.
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