Why Oscar Voters Backed Away From Ariana Grande

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s highly publicized awards season run for “Wicked: For Good” has taken a controversial turn following claims from anonymous Oscar voters. 

Despite viral moments, emotional interviews, and a headline-grabbing press tour, the pair walked away without 2026 Oscar nominations. 

Now, behind-the-scenes accounts suggest their snub had less to do with talent and more to do with how their promotional appearances were received, with some voters admitting they felt uneasy watching the duo together.

Much has been made about Grande and Erivo failing to land 2026 Oscar nominations for their performances in “Wicked: For Good.” 

Grande appeared in a supporting role as Glinda, while Erivo starred as Elphaba in the follow-up to 2024’s “Wicked.” 

According to one anonymous Oscar voter who spoke with News Nation, the decision wasn’t surprising behind closed doors.

“The movie wasn’t that great. The two have amazing on-screen chemistry but spent most of the movie apart,” the voter told the outlet’s Paula Froelich. 

That assessment reportedly shaped early opinions among voters, but it was the actresses’ off-screen presence that left a stronger impression. 

Despite months of attention and viral clips, some voters allegedly felt the campaign worked against them rather than in their favor.

The same voter claimed the actresses’ promotional appearances were a major turnoff.

 “I was also just completely turned off by their promotional performances. They creeped a lot of people out and in their rush to feel authentic, came off as cosplaying,” the source said. 

According to the outlet, their affectionate red carpet behavior and emotional interviews became talking points within awards circles.

Another voter echoed the same sentiment, stating, “The movie wasn’t that good and [Erivo and Grande] sucked the air out of any red carpet they were on — and no one wanted to go through that again.” 

The voter added, “Think of it this way: We were protecting Ariana from her anxiety — and Cynthia from having to intervene. Again.” 

Alongside these critiques, fans online also voiced concern over Ariana Grande and Erivo’s noticeable weight loss during the press run.

Several viral interactions between Grande and Erivo were later cited as examples of what critics labeled “cringeworthy.” 

In Paris, the pair were asked by an Elle Magazine journalist to describe each other’s “auras.” 

The “Sam and Cat” actress revealed that Erivo’s was “yellow,” like “sunshine,” before adding, “I think there’s also purple.” 

Erivo responded by describing Grande’s as “like a ciel blue, you know? Like aqua. And like, sunset-orange.”

The exchange was widely shared online, with mixed reactions. 

Following the moment, one Reddit user wrote per the Daily Mail, “I can’t go through this again,” referencing the duo’s previous press tour moments in 2024. 

One of the most talked-about interviews from 2024 featured Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo speaking with journalist Tracy E. Gilchrist for Out Magazine. 

During the sit-down, Gilchrist told the 39-year-old that she had seen people online discussing the lyrics of “Defying Gravity” and “feeling power” from it. 

Erivo replied, “I didn’t know that was happening. That’s really powerful. That’s what I wanted.”

As Erivo spoke, Grande became emotional and reached over to clasp her co-star’s index finger in a visible show of support. 

While some praised the moment, others mocked it online. One person asked on X, “What was this?” while another added, “Is this a sketch comedy show or something?”

The scrutiny continued in November 2025 when a fan charged at Grande during the Singapore premiere of the film, prompting Erivo to intervene protectively. 

The individual was later identified as Johnson Wen, who goes by @PyjamaMann on Instagram.