The narrative surrounding Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande being snubbed by The Oscars flipped dramatically after a new explosive rumor out of News Nation made the rounds this week.
After early momentum, Golden Globe recognition, and months of awards chatter surrounding Wicked: For Good, Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, and the film itself walked away from the Academy Awards with nothing — no acting nominations, no technical recognition, not even acknowledgment for new original songs added to the adaptation.
The poster for Wicked – Universal
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According to multiple Academy voters speaking anonymously to News Nation, the snub had a lot to do with the film’s content and the perception of the two stars.
Specifically, voters say the film’s stars alienated them during the promotional tour.
One voter summed up the reaction bluntly, saying, “The movie wasn’t that great. The two have amazing on-screen chemistry but spent most of the movie apart.”
That alone might not have doomed Wicked: For Good. But voters say the pair’s press tour behavior crossed an unspoken line.
“They Creeped a Lot of People Out”
Several Academy voters reportedly cited the promotional circuit as the breaking point.
“I was also just completely turned off by their promotional performances,” one voter said. “They creeped a lot of people out and in their rush to feel authentic, came off as cosplaying.”
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande pose for photos, Youtube, SLOAN
That sentiment was echoed repeatedly behind the scenes, particularly as Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo leaned heavily into emotional displays, intense physical closeness, and what some described as codependent theatrics during interviews and public appearances.
The behavior went viral repeatedly — but not in a way that helped awards prospects.
Viral Moments That Worked Against Wicked
Among the most discussed incidents was a promotional panel moment where producer Marc Platt grabbed Ariana Grande’s arm enthusiastically. Grande appeared startled, clutching her arm afterward. Cynthia Erivo immediately intervened, cradling Grande’s arm and appearing to kiss or rest her head against it — a reaction that many viewers found disproportionate to the situation.
‘Wicked’ stars Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo describe each other’s ‘auras’ pic.twitter.com/DGuqRxp7KL
— Wesley L. Austin (@Wesleylaustin) November 12, 2025
Other moments, including their now-infamous “aura reading” exchange at the Paris premiere and Grande’s visible distress on the New York red carpet, fueled a perception that the duo’s dynamic had become uncomfortable rather than endearing.
While some fans defended the behavior as emotional openness, voters reportedly saw something else entirely.
“They Sucked the Air Out of the Room”
Another Academy voter was even more direct about why Wicked was quietly sidelined.
“The movie wasn’t that good and (Erivo and Grande) sucked the air out of any red carpet they were on,” the voter said. “No one wanted to go through that again.”
🔥🚨DEVELOPING: Cynthia Erivo and Arianna Grande expressed their deep love for each other and how they hope to stay in each other lives forever during Wicked promo. pic.twitter.com/OkRKDiZUHA
— Dom Lucre | Breaker of Narratives (@dom_lucre) December 1, 2025
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The concern wasn’t hostility toward Ariana Grande or Cynthia Erivo personally — it was exhaustion.
According to the source, voters framed the snub not as punishment, but as avoidance: “Think of it this way: We were protecting Ariana from her anxiety — and Cynthia from having to intervene. Again.”
Ariana Grande’s Golden Globes Appearance Signals a Possible PR Reset
Notably, Ariana Grande appeared to strike a very different tone at the Golden Globes—an appearance many observers interpreted as a deliberate attempt to reset her public image following the Wicked press tour.
Gone was the ultra-blonde Glinda aesthetic and the visibly anxious, childlike affect that became a focal point of criticism during the film’s promotional cycle. Instead, Grande returned to a look far more reminiscent of her pre-Wicked public persona, sporting dark hair styled in a high ponytail—an image longtime fans immediately recognized as a callback to her earlier pop star era.
Equally noticeable was the shift in her demeanor. During interviews and public interactions at the Globes, Grande spoke in a noticeably deeper, more grounded voice, abandoning the airy, fragile cadence that defined many of her Wicked press appearances. The contrast was striking enough that it quickly became a topic of online discussion, with many noting how dramatically more composed and self-assured she appeared.
Within industry circles, the change was widely interpreted as intentional. By appearing solo—without Cynthia Erivo—and presenting a calmer, more traditional version of herself, Grande seemed to distance herself from the intense, codependent dynamic that had come to define their pairing in the public eye. For critics and voters already fatigued by that dynamic, the Golden Globes appearance read less as coincidence and more as reputational course correction.
Ariana Grande as Glinda in Wicked – Peacock
Whether this signals a permanent recalibration or a one-off effort to steady the narrative remains to be seen. But the timing, presentation, and tone of Grande’s Golden Globes appearance strongly suggested an awareness that the Wicked press tour had become a liability—and that a return to form was not just desired, but necessary.
From Awards Darling to Afterthought
The Cynthia Erivo Ariana Grande Oscars snub represents a stunning reversal. Just months ago, Wicked: For Good was positioned as a major prestige release, complete with new songs, star power, and franchise ambition.
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande sing at the Oscars – YouTube, Oscars
Instead, the film underperformed expectations relative to the original Wicked, and its darker, second-act-only structure failed to resonate broadly with awards voters. Combined with a press tour that many found distracting or unsettling, the result was a clean sweep — in the worst possible way.
In Hollywood, momentum matters. And once the perception shifted, it appears Wicked never recovered.
Are you surprised Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande were snubbed at the Oscars? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
Remember how the Shill Access Media hyped the heck out of Wicked 2? Turns out it was a woke, garbage movie, even too woke for the Oscars!
As for the air-head actresses, they nuked their careers, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.
Well, I never! A total humiliation.
If this board allowed people to embed images there are tons of GrumpyCat memes that fit this situation.
“Good” comes to mind and it works with the movie title!
Anything that sends the stick figure and black Gollum packing can’t happen fast enough…
Erivo’s mere existence creeps me out.