Cynthia Erivo Speaks Out After ‘Bodyguard’ Jokes Over Ariana Grande Rescue

Nigerian-British actress Cynthia Erivo has addressed the online mockery she faced after shielding Ariana Grande from a fan who grabbed the singer at the Singapore premiere of Wicked: For Good. Erivo acted instinctively to protect her co-star when the man refused to let go. After a clip of the incident went viral, social media users joked that Erivo was Grande’s “bodyguard,” focusing on her physique, bald head and posture. Erivo said the jokes revealed an insidious bias in how Black women are often perceived. She explained that the moment was terrifying for everyone and her only thought was to get the fan away. Erivo called out the assumptions tied to her appearance and role beside Grande and reflected on the broader stereotypes at play. The backlash also shook her confidence about campaigning for awards, as she worried about enduring more public scrutiny over an instinctive act.

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