With the release of Wicked: For Good just a week away, Cynthia Erivo is addressing the persistent narrative that her artistic choices are inherently political. Appearing on the cover of GQ’s Men of the Year issue, Erivo clarified that her roles in productions such as Wicked and The Color Purple are not deliberately selected for their political charge. Rather, she explained, the perception of controversy is often a reflection of her identity as a Black, queer woman performing in today’s sociopolitical climate. ‘I think inevitably, because I’m in this body with this skin, in this time, everything I do will be political,’ she said. ‘I’ve been told so many times that I pick controversial roles, and I’m like, ‘Why? Why are the roles I pick controversial?’ I just pick a thing that I feel like I want.’
Erivo, who is close to achieving EGOT status, expressed a keen interest in challenging and ‘f–king with the narrative’ surrounding gender and sexuality within her work. She highlighted the fluidity between masculinity and femininity, observing, ‘I’m fascinated with the interplay between masculinity and femininity, and where we place it and how we use it. Because I truly believe we all have both in us , and I think it’s so sexy when we can access both.’
This year, Erivo’s casting as Jesus Christ in a Hollywood Bowl production of Jesus Christ Superstar sparked considerable backlash from conservative Christian groups, who labelled the casting as ‘blasphemous’ and, in harsher terms, ‘demonic.’ Critics, including actors like Kevin Sorbo, focused their disapproval not only on her race and gender but also on her portrayal. The outcry ignited broader conversations around the intersection of religious representation, art, and inclusivity in theatre. Supporters of the production argued that the musical itself has long been a platform for challenging conventions and embraces reinterpretation, celebrating diversity as part of its core ethos.
In light of this criticism, Erivo’s response has been notably composed and confident. She dismissed the backlash with a laugh in interviews, stating, ‘You can’t please everyone,’ and described Jesus Christ Superstar as ‘the gayest place on Earth,’ emphasising the show’s inherent inclusivity. She encouraged audiences to experience the production firsthand, underscoring her enthusiasm for the role.
Beyond the theatre, Erivo commented on the growing anti-LGBTQ+ political environment in 2025, lamenting the intrusion into individuals’ personal lives. ‘Who I love and who you love have nothing to do with each other,’ she argued. ‘I don’t understand why people feel a need to be involved in people’s business.’ Her message urged a deeper embrace of love and acceptance, stating, ‘If people really, actually allow themselves to love, actually love, this wouldn’t be happening. We would want everyone to have it, wherever they could get it. Because you’d actually know what it feels like. And so when you know what it feels like, you’d want it for anyone else.’
Source: Noah Wire Services
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