Oscar Voters Reportedly Admit Skipping Ariana Grande Over “Creepy” Cynthia Erivo Relationship

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The first movie in the ‘Wicked’ series received ten Oscar nominations and made stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande major contenders for awards. However, the sequel, ‘Wicked: For Good,’ released in 2025, didn’t receive any Oscar nominations when the announcements were made on January 22, 2026, despite the success of the first film.

Fans around the world were surprised to see Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo missing from the nominations in their acting categories. NewsNation reports that anonymous voters have explained why neither actress received any nominations.

A major complaint about the second film was its structure. Viewers thought it didn’t build on the key relationship that made the original so popular.

One viewer told NewsNation the movie was just okay, despite the two lead actors having great chemistry. They felt the story lost its emotional impact because the actors were separated for most of the film.

I was really surprised by how much the actors’ personal lives seemed to affect the awards voting. It wasn’t just about the movie itself; apparently, the way they handled the press tour for the next film caused some issues with several Academy members, which definitely played a part in the outcome.

One voter said they were really put off by the actresses’ promotional events, explaining that they made a lot of people uncomfortable and, in trying too hard to seem genuine, ended up feeling artificial. The close relationship between the two actresses also seemed to bother some voters.

Some observers felt certain interactions at press events seemed excessive or artificial. For example, critics suggested that Cynthia Erivo’s very public support of Ariana Grande might have taken attention away from the campaign’s actual message.

One voter directly stated the decision to exclude the film and its actors seemed intentional, suggesting the Academy wanted to avoid being associated with the recent negative publicity.

One voter told NewsNation the movie wasn’t very good, and both Erivo and Grande created awkward moments on the red carpet that people wanted to avoid. They added that the intention was to protect Ariana Grande from her anxiety and spare Cynthia Erivo from having to step in and smooth things over again.

These remarks have sparked a big discussion among movie lovers about how awards should be decided. Many believe films should be evaluated based on their story and filmmaking quality, not on what happens with the actors while promoting the movie.

Wicked: For Good marked the end of Universal Pictures’ big-screen version of the popular Broadway musical, and starred a talented ensemble cast featuring Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, Jeff Goldblum, and Michelle Yeoh.

Since the movie came out, the main actors have started working on different projects. Ariana Grande is getting ready for her Eternal Sunshine Tour, which will begin in June 2026 and bring her back to large-scale live performances.

Cynthia Erivo is back on stage in London’s West End, starring in a new production of Dracula. What makes this show special is that Erivo performs all twenty-three characters herself!

Cynthia Erivo will appear in the movie version of the play Prima Facie and has also joined the cast of Children of Blood and Bone. Despite not receiving an Oscar nomination, both Erivo and her fellow actress continue to enjoy great success and are in high demand.

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2026-01-25 21:48