Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande Skipping Interviews at ‘Wicked: For Good’ New York Premiere

The highly anticipated New York City premiere of “Wicked: For Good” saw a notable change in its red carpet proceedings as lead stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande opted to skip interviews. The decision stemmed from Erivo feeling unwell and having lost her voice, with Grande choosing to forgo interviews in a show of solidarity for her co-star.

An Unexpected Turn at the Premiere

On Monday evening, November 17, as the “Wicked: For Good” premiere commenced at Lincoln Center, media representatives were informed that both Cynthia Erivo, who plays Elphaba, and Ariana Grande, portraying Glinda, would not be participating in interviews. Universal Pictures representatives cited Erivo’s ill health and vocal issues as the primary reason. In a gesture of support, Grande decided to join Erivo in skipping the press line for interviews. Despite this, both acclaimed actresses were still expected to pose for photographs on the yellow brick road carpet.

Other prominent cast members and the film’s director, Jon M. Chu, were in attendance and expected to engage with the media. This included Jonathan Bailey (Fiyero), Ethan Slater (Boq), Bowen Yang (Pfannee), Marissa Bode (Nessarose), Colman Domingo (the voice of Brrr the Cowardly Lion), Michelle Yeoh (Madame Morrible), and Jeff Goldblum (The Wizard).

A Promotional Tour Fraught with Challenges

The New York premiere marks another eventful stop in what has been a challenging international promotional tour for “Wicked: For Good.” The tour has seen a few unexpected incidents leading up to the film’s release. Earlier in the tour, Ariana Grande was unable to attend the São Paulo, Brazil premiere on November 4 due to unforeseen mechanical issues with her airplane.

More recently, a startling incident occurred at the Singapore premiere on November 13, where a man breached security and attempted to grab Grande on the yellow carpet. Cynthia Erivo swiftly intervened to push the man away, with Michelle Yeoh also stepping in to comfort Grande, before security subdued the individual. This event visibly shook Grande, highlighting the unforeseen pressures of public appearances.

Following this incident, Erivo reflected on the arduous journey of creating and promoting the film, stating during a Screen Actors Guild event that they had “come through some s***,” acknowledging the emotional and physical challenges faced by the cast.

“Wicked: For Good” Nears Release

Despite the challenges of the promotional circuit, anticipation remains high for “Wicked: For Good,” the second and final installment of the cinematic adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical. The film continues the narrative established in the first “Wicked” movie, which saw significant global success and garnered ten Academy Award nominations.

In “Wicked: For Good,” Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), now known as the Wicked Witch of the West, continues her fight for animal rights and seeks to expose the truth about the Wizard, while living in exile. Meanwhile, Glinda (Ariana Grande) embraces her public role as Glinda the Good, residing in the Emerald City and preparing for her marriage to Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey). The film is set to delve deeper into their complex friendship as they navigate the consequences of their choices and the unfolding events in the Land of Oz.

“Wicked: For Good” is scheduled to be released in theaters on November 21, 2025.

Conclusion

The decision by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande to skip interviews at the “Wicked: For Good” New York premiere, while unexpected, underscores the demanding nature of a global film promotion tour. It highlights the solidarity between the co-stars amidst personal health challenges and recent security concerns. As the highly anticipated sequel draws closer to its release, the focus remains on the enchanting world of Oz and the powerful performances that audiences worldwide are eager to experience.