Before the Oscars 2026 nominations list was unveiled, fans of Wicked: For Good were anticipating Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo‘s presence on the list. Unfortunately, after the list arrived, fans were surprised and disappointed to see neither the film nor the leads, Grande and Erivo, score any nominations. Subsequently, they took to social media to convey their disappointment. Now, a report has surfaced, allegedly revealing the reasons behind the snub.
Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo were snubbed by Oscars due to this reason
Oscar voters were reportedly irked by Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s promotional performances for Wicked: For Good. This likely contributed to their absence in this year’s Oscars race. One voter told News Nation that the movie “wasn’t that great.” They added, “The two have amazing on-screen chemistry but spent most of the movie apart.”
The voter further stated that they were “completely turned off” by Grande and Erivo’s “promotional performances.” Elaborating, the person claimed that the two stars “creeped a lot of people out in their rush to feel authentic,” leading them to create the impression that they were “cosplaying.”
Another voter claimed that the “Into You” hitmaker and English artist “sucked the air out of any red carpet they were on — and no one wanted to go through that again.” They added, “Think of it this way: We were protecting Ariana from her anxiety — and Cynthia from having to intervene. Again.”
Both of them’s conduct during Wicked: For Good’s press tour reportedly left fans uncomfortable. Notably, during a promotional panel, producer Marc Platt took Grande’s hand and shook it quickly and energetically. Seeing this, Erivo took her co-star’s hand, put her face over it, and held it protectively. The gesture left critics baffled, with many wondering why Erivo responded intensely to a seemingly harmless action. In addition, they were scrutinized for their weight loss, which faced considerable criticism.
While Wicked: For Good did not score any Oscar nominations, its predecessor, Wicked, did. The latter film bagged 10 nominations, which include Best Actress for Erivo and Best Supporting Actress for Grande. It eventually won two awards: Best Costume Design and Best Production Design.
