Cynthia Erivo is creating a space for a jarring experience, as if inviting the audience to witness a storm. Just days after protecting her costar Ariana Grande during the Singapore premiere of Wicked: For Good, when a fan rushed her over the barricade, Cynthia reflected on navigating the incident with poise. "We've been through some s--t," she shared at the Nov. 15 special Screen Actors Guild NomCom consideration screening at the Saban Media Center Wolf Theater in Los Angeles. "We've faced our demons in our lives, in our daily workings. I mean, even this last week."
She continued, "Let's be honest, for f--k's sakes, we've had to really deal with some stuff, and this movie has allowed us to grow as people, as friends, as sisters, as artists, as actresses." Despite the unfortunate experience in Singapore, Cynthia is grateful to play Elephaba Thropp alongside Ariana's Glinda Upland in the second Wicked installment.
"There are other people who have seen themselves in this movie, in that character, and also now see themselves and feel safe," the 38-year-old added. "That, for me, is the pinnacle of what I could ever wish for from any piece of work I have ever done. And I am so glad that in order to do it, I had to look into the eyes of this person beside me."
Following the fan incident, Ariana shared a simple message to the Southeast Asian country after the premiere. "Thank you, Singapore," the 32-year-old captioned a Nov. 14 Instagram post. "We love you."
As the Wicked cast defies gravity to attend premieres across the world, unexpected incidents have left them uneasy at times. For instance, when Ariana couldn't participate in the Brazil premiere, she urged fans to take the update in stride. "Please don't wish danger on us," she wrote on her Instagram Stories Nov. 4. "We did everything we could and I promise you no one is more upset than I am. No matter how upset or disappointed you are, please please do not wish danger on us or assume that we didn't try."
In fact, the "we can't be friends" singer even shared insight into how her team tried to get her to South America. "A few hours ago, my team and I had to deplane our flight, as they had to do maintenance on the plane due to a safety issue," she explained on Instagram the day before. "It will not be taking off until 11 a.m. tomorrow, which means that I would not be making it in time." "Even in attempting a private option, there is a permit necessary in order to fly from here that takes time to attain," she continued. "I am so heartbroken that I'm unable to be there with you all. Please shower my incredible castmates with all of the love that I wish I could be showering you with and have the most beautiful celebration."
Although the Grammy winner didn't make it to Brazil, she has been able to attend others, including London and Paris. And as she graced the yellow carpet, she opted for Glinda-inspired looks to complement Cynthia's green ensembles, creating a dynamic visual spectacle that echoed their on-screen chemistry.
