Cynthia Erivo shared with Variety that she isn’t keen on discussing “Wicked” any further, despite the interview mostly revolving around the topic. In the conversation published on May 27, she elaborated on her choice not to lobby for an Oscar for “Wicked: For Good,” and discussed her perceptions of the role. She also recounted a memorable incident where she intervened with an overzealous fan approaching co-star Ariana Grande at Universal Studios Singapore in November 2025.
When the topic of “Wicked” came up, Erivo expressed a desire to shift the conversation. “Do you mind if I do another question that isn’t about ‘Wicked’? I feel like I’ve spent the last two years discussing it,” she said. It was clear she’d reached a saturation point, remarking, “And I love ‘Wicked,’ but I’ve just talked about it ad nauseam.”
She then pivoted back to the incident involving the fan, describing the scene: “Nobody moved. Nobody moved. So I moved because my brain went, ‘Get him away! Get him out of here!’ My instinct was to protect.” She highlighted that the fan wouldn’t let go of Grande, prompting her to push him away.
Erivo also reflected on the internet’s reaction to their red carpet moment. She pointed out an underlying issue, stating, “I think that we haven’t really come to terms with the insidious nature of how we view black women.” She further explained that the negative commentary often centered around her appearance, including her physique and bald head, influencing perceptions about her role as protective simply because of her shape compared to Grande’s.
“I would hazard a guess it would not have been the same had it been the other way around,” she added, acknowledging how societal expectations differ based on race and gender. When asked if the incident made her hesitant about an Oscar, she confessed it left a mark. “I think maybe in a way it did, actually,” Erivo said. “I felt like my humanity had been bastardized.”
She felt that her instinctive reaction had been misinterpreted through a lens clouded by assumptions about her identity. Erivo’s character, Elphaba, is known for having a green face in the film, leading her to remark on how people’s perceptions can diverge sharply from reality. “It’s interesting watching what people think versus what actually is,” she noted.
“Lots of psychologists seated at home deciding who we were, what we were going through, what we were doing and why,” she remarked, reflecting on how the public interprets her role and actions. “Because I think sometimes, if I’m honest, people thought I was being myself, even though I was green.”
