Cynthia Erivo has addressed the challenges she faced during the Wicked press tour, revealing that the experience became emotionally and professionally exhausting following a viral incident involving co-star Ariana Grande.
In a recent interview, the Oscar-nominated actress said the intense online reaction to the event played a significant role in her decision to step back from awards season campaigning for Wicked: For Good.
“I think maybe in a way it did, actually,” Erivo said when asked whether the Singapore incident influenced her decision.
The incident occurred during a red carpet event at Universal Studios Singapore, when a man rushed toward Grande while Erivo, Grande, Michelle Yeoh, and Jeff Goldblum were greeting fans.
“Nobody moved. Nobody moved,” Erivo recalled. “So I moved because my brain went, ‘Get him away! Get him out of here!’”
Erivo said the situation was more serious than what was visible in viral footage. “What people couldn’t see is that he wouldn’t let go [of Grande],” she said. “So I just kept pushing at him to get him off.”
Following the incident, Erivo said she became the target of online criticism and memes focusing on her appearance.
“I just felt like my humanity had been bastardized,” she said.
The actress also criticized speculation about her friendship with Ariana Grande, saying internet users wrongly projected narratives onto their relationship.
“If I’m a friend, then I’m a friend. If I’m not, then I’m not,” she said.
Despite the backlash, Erivo emphasized that her relationship with Grande remains strong.