Cynthia Erivo Addresses Racism in Response to Red Carpet Incident Involving Ariana Grande
‘I felt my humanity was bastardised’: Cynthia Erivo says reaction to Ariana Grande red carpet incident rooted in racism
Image: The Guardian
Cynthia Erivo, star of 'Wicked', expressed her dismay over the public's reaction to a red carpet incident where she defended co-star Ariana Grande from an intruder. She highlighted the racial undertones in how Black women are perceived, which has affected her willingness to campaign for Oscars.
- 01Cynthia Erivo intervened during a red carpet incident at the Singapore premiere of 'Wicked: For Good' to protect Ariana Grande from an intruder.
- 02The intruder, Johnson Wen, was sentenced to nine days in jail for his actions.
- 03Erivo criticized the assumption that she was acting as Grande's bodyguard due to her appearance and race.
- 04She stated that reactions to the incident reflect deep-seated biases regarding Black women.
- 05Erivo has hesitated to campaign for Oscars for her role due to the negative perceptions following the incident.
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Cynthia Erivo, who stars in 'Wicked: For Good', has spoken out about the public's reaction to a troubling incident at the film's Singapore premiere. During the event, Erivo intervened when an intruder, Johnson Wen, jumped a barrier and approached her and co-star Ariana Grande. Erivo described the moment as terrifying, stating that she instinctively acted to protect Grande, pushing Wen away. Following the incident, social media reactions included derogatory comments suggesting Erivo was merely Grande's 'bodyguard'. In an interview with Variety, Erivo expressed her frustration with the racial implications of such assumptions, emphasizing that they reflect a broader issue regarding how society views Black women. She lamented feeling that her humanity had been 'bastardised' and indicated that this experience has made her reluctant to engage in Oscar campaigning for her role in the film, as she feels it would subject her to further scrutiny and bias.
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The incident raises awareness about the treatment of Black women in public spaces and the assumptions made about their roles.
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