Hollywood actress Cynthia Erivo has responded to the memes circulating during the ‘Wicked: For Good’ press tour, where she was humorously portrayed as being overly protective of her co-star Ariana Grande. Erivo clarified in an interview with ‘Variety’ that the friendship between her and Grande is genuine, despite public skepticism. She emphasized that the memes stemmed from misconceptions about her character and appearance, highlighting societal biases towards Black women.
Erivo disclosed that she and Grande maintain frequent communication, debunking the exaggerated portrayals of their relationship. While the incident garnered attention for Erivo’s quick reactions, it also led to online jokes and TikTok videos depicting her as Grande’s “bodyguard.” The actress expressed frustration at the underlying racial and physical stereotypes perpetuated by the memes, pointing out the unfair scrutiny she faced due to her appearance.
According to ‘Variety,’ despite the buzz around ‘Wicked: For Good,’ the production did not receive recognition from the Academy Awards. Erivo reflected on the challenges of Oscar campaigning, particularly in the extended post-Covid award season. She noted the importance of sustained energy and positivity throughout the campaigning period to avoid potential setbacks.
Erivo shared insights into her transition from the ‘Wicked’ project to rehearsals for ‘Dracula’ earlier this year. Returning to the West End stage, she described the experience as a grounding process after the whirlwind success of ‘Wicked,’ which significantly impacted her life. Amid speculations about a potential third movie in the franchise, fueled by the survival of Elphaba, Erivo remains focused on her evolving career opportunities.
