All articles tagged with #cynthia erivo
Cynthia Erivo says the backlash to her stepping in at the Singapore Wicked: For Good premiere—when a man grabbed Ariana Grande—exposed systemic bias against Black women and made her hesitant to campaign for Oscars, stressing that personal space isn’t a protective role and rejecting the notion she’s Grande’s bodyguard.
Cynthia Erivo says she paused campaigning for an Oscar for Wicked: For Good after the Singapore red-carpet incident involving Ariana Grande, noting that insidious memes and body-shaming online left her feeling her humanity had been bastardized and made her hesitant to endure the awards season; she still credits Wicked with changing her life and emphasizes that her friendship with Grande remains strong despite public doubt.
During Wicked’s Singapore premiere, Cynthia Erivo protected Ariana Grande from a fan, a moment that sparked memes labeling Erivo as Grande’s bodyguard. In a Variety interview, Erivo argued the memes exposed racist, gendered stereotypes about Black women— including a focus on her physique and baldness— and she noted these dynamics affected her Oscar campaigning, though she has since stepped back from heavy publicity.
Cynthia Erivo disclosed that she and Ariana Grande were “holding on by threads” after years of filming and promoting the Wicked films, emphasizing they leaned on each other amid intense scrutiny and memes. She recalled protecting Grande from a fan at the Singapore premiere and noted how public commentary often misreads their friendship, highlighting the effort to stay close despite the demanding press tour.
Cynthia Erivo rejects the idea that she was Ariana Grande’s bodyguard, saying the friendship was genuine and they kept in touch during the Wicked press cycle. She notes how misperceptions of Black women shaped online commentary, and recalls the Singapore premiere incident in which she protected Grande from a man who grabbed her. Erivo also points out that people often read their dynamic incorrectly and that they supported each other throughout the four-year production, with continued texting after filming.
Cynthia Erivo discusses the intense scrutiny around Wicked and its sequel, the deliberate effort to nurture her friendship with Ariana Grande amid online speculation, the Singapore incident where she protected Grande, and the emotional toll of Oscar campaigning. She’s returning to the West End in Dracula, pursuing future roles like Miriam Makeba, and continuing her advocacy through The Shameless Fund, all while staying grounded in humanity and authenticity despite fame.
Tom Brady and Cynthia Erivo will headline Boston's Unbound conference (Sept. 16–18 at the Thomas M. Menino Convention & Exhibition Center in the Seaport), with Mel Robbins and Sunita Williams among other headliners; Unbound is HubSpot's rebrand of Inbound, a marquee marketing and business leaders event focused on growth, AI, and the customer journey.
Cynthia Erivo stars in a new one-woman Dracula at London’s Noël Coward Theatre, delivering 23 roles via live acting intercut with real-time and prerecorded footage to create multiple Erivos on screen. The show emphasizes mood over gore, featuring stylish design and noir-esque camerawork, but at times veers into schlock and laughter that undercuts menace. While it nods to contemporary themes of race and power, the production largely serves Erivo’s virtuosity rather than deep engagement with the source, making it a spectacle likely to please her fans through May 30.
Cynthia Erivo leads a demanding two-hour Dracula at London’s Noël Coward Theatre, performing 23 characters with live-camera projections; she says she blocks online criticism to stay focused, while critics are divided—praising her energy and versatility in places, but calling the production overproduced or lacking peril in others.
Cynthia Erivo addressed persistent rumors that she and Ariana Grande are lovers during a Stylist interview, clarifying that the two are close friends not romantically involved, and noting Grande’s relationship with Ethan Slater while Erivo has been dating Lena Waithe; she suggested the chatter stems from a discomfort with deep platonic female friendships.
Halle Berry told The Cut that winning the Oscar didn’t dramatically change her career, noting that directors still questioned casting Black leads and that the win didn’t open doors overseas. She advised Cynthia Erivo that Oscar wins cannot validate a career, a point she’s echoed for years as she remains critical of the industry’s progress on representation, even as Erivo’s star rose.
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande stunned at the Grammys by winning Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for their rendition of Defying Gravity from Wicked, beating favorites Apt. and Golden. They did not attend the ceremony’s Premiere portion to accept the award, which was the first award handed out. The win marks Erivo’s second and Grande’s third Grammy.
The Wicked: For Good sequel, led by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, was shut out of the 2026 Academy Awards, receiving no lead or supporting actress nominations despite a strong box office showing and prior Golden Globes nods; the 98th Oscars honored other films (with Sinners leading at 16 nominations) and Universal remains hopeful about expanding the Wicked universe despite the Oscar snub.
Ariana Grande defends her acting career, especially her role as Glinda in 'Wicked,' emphasizing her dedication and the emotional depth required. She discusses the differences between music and acting, her recent award nominations, and her love for the craft, while also addressing the skepticism she has faced and her future projects.
Cynthia Erivo will miss the 83rd Golden Globes due to her commitments to a West End production of 'Dracula,' where she plays 23 characters, including Dracula, while her acclaimed role in 'Wicked' earns her a Golden Globe nomination. The play's previews begin February 4, preventing her from attending the ceremony.