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Cynthia Erivo Stops Intruder in Singapore, Scales Back Oscar Campaign

5/28/2026

37 8 Full Breakdown

Summary

Cynthia Erivo Stops

Cynthia Erivo stopped a man who rushed Ariana Grande at Singapore Wicked premiere in November 2025.
Intruder Johnson Wen was jailed for nine days and banned from Singapore.
Erivo said memes about baldness and size made her feel humanity was bastardized, prompting her to scale back the Oscar campaign.
She told Stylist on February 10 2026 that Wicked earned ten Oscar nominations in 2025 and a third film is planned.

Summary

Erivo Opens Up

Erivo told Variety on May 27 2026 that she and Ariana Grande are “holding on by threads” as they start the Wicked tour.
She said the co-stars still text nearly every day to support each other.
Erivo said the Singapore incident revealed race-based criticism of Black women in memes.
She added that comments on her bald, larger-framed body called her the “controlling” protector, a label she says would flip if roles reversed.

Summary

Erivo No-Noms

Wicked: For Good received no Oscar nominations.
Its sequel generated noticeably less Oscar buzz than the original movie.
Cynthia Erivo observed that the sequel’s buzz was already upturned before release, indicating a decline in award-season momentum.
The film’s promotional campaign, labeled the “For Good press tour,” included a stop in Singapore.
Erivo said she expects a long and healthy career on both stage and screen.

History

Historical Context

After April Reign launched #OscarsSoWhite in January 2015 to protest the Academy’s all-white acting slate, the Academy pledged to boost diversity, reaching 41 % people of color in its 2017 membership. The movement’s legacy resurfaced in 2025 when Cynthia Erivo’s Singapore clash with Ariana Grande sparked similar online harassment of Black women, underscoring ongoing industry challenges.

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Cynthia Erivo Stops

Cynthia Erivo stopped a man who rushed Ariana Grande at Singapore Wicked premiere in November 2025.
Intruder Johnson Wen was jailed for nine days and banned from Singapore.
Erivo said memes about baldness and size made her feel humanity was bastardized, prompting her to scale back the Oscar campaign.
She told Stylist on February 10 2026 that Wicked earned ten Oscar nominations in 2025 and a third film is planned.

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