Cynthia Erivo recently addressed the backlash surrounding bodyguard memes that surfaced during the promotional tour for 'Wicked: For Good.' The controversy began when Erivo stepped in to protect her co-star Ariana Grande from an incident involving a gatecrasher at the film's Singapore premiere. While many praised Erivo for her quick response, the moment quickly turned into a series of memes that labeled her as Grande's 'bodyguard,' drawing on negative stereotypes about Black women. In an interview with Variety, Erivo expressed concern over the 'insidious nature' of these jokes, pointing out that they reflect societal assumptions about Black women's bodies and roles. She argued that the jokes were rooted in her physical appearance and the perception that she was larger than Grande, leading to the assumption that she was there to protect her co-star. Grande did not directly comment on the memes but showed her support by liking a critical Instagram post from film content creator The Film Diva. SZA also weighed in, labeling the jokes as 'classic misogynoir' and emphasizing the need to recognize the harmful implications of such portrayals.