NYPD probe racist letter threat of couple

NEW YORK, Dec. 7 (UPI) -- New York police are investigating a racist threat against Taye Diggs and his wife, "Wicked" star Idina Menzel, E! Online reported.

Three threatening letters were sent to the interracial couple and one of the letters warned of "bodily harm."

The writer vowed to "burn" and "castrate" the African-American actor for marrying Menzel, whom he met in 1996 when the pair co-starred in the Broadway smash "Rent."

The writer also threatened to burn down the Gershwin Theater, where Menzel is headlining the hit musical "Wicked."

Officers with the police department's hate crimes unit are investigating and boosting security at the Gershwin.

Each of the three letters was postmarked from different locations: New York, Philadelphia and an Ohio town.

Diggs, 34, married Menzel, 33, in January 2003.