Ariana Grande Oscar Snub Tied to Cynthia Erivo's 'Intense' Guardianship, Which 'Creeped Out' Anonymous Voters

A rumour has circulated on social platforms suggesting that members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences did not vote for Ariana Grande's performance in Wicked: For Good because they were allegedly 'creeped out' by her relationship with co-star Cynthia Erivo. The snub follows a successful 2025 awards season for the franchise's first film, which earned ten Oscar nominations and won two awards. The absence of nominations for the sequel has sparked intense speculation online. The claim, primarily circulating through anonymous internet posts, has no verifiable basis in statements from the Academy, accredited journalists, or documented transcripts from voters themselves.

Snub Confirmed, Motives Not

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences publicly released the nominations list for the 98th Oscars on Jan. 22, 2026, with no nods for Wicked: For Good, its cast, or its creative team. The outcome was widely noted by the industry press and celebrities alike. Singer Charlie Puth publicly defended both Grande and Erivo on X (formerly Twitter), arguing that their musical performances deserved recognition despite the snub.

Crucially, there is no official transcript or press release from the Academy explaining how individual voters made their decisions. The Oscars voting process is confidential, and ballots or detailed reasoning are not published. Academy spokespersons do not comment on individual performances or personal reasons for votes. Claims to the contrary come from unnamed 'sources' relayed through secondary entertainment websites and unverified internet threads, rather than from direct Academy documentation.

Unverified Rumours vs Confirmed Commentary

Social media threads allege that some Oscar voters found the dynamic between Grande and Erivo during press events 'intense' or 'creepy'. These descriptions originate from anonymous posts on platforms like Reddit and quoted comments on gossip sites. Such claims are not attributable to any named Academy members. They are not corroborated by any interview transcripts, sworn depositions, or documented communications involving Academy voters.

Entertainment news pages have summarised industry reactions to the snub, noting that some observers online felt the promotional style for Wicked: For Good was unusual, but they do not present verified voter testimony. Because the Academy's voting is conducted privately, no credible journalist has published a verified quote from an Oscar voter linking the snub to personal feelings about the performers' interactions. Statements attributed to anonymous 'voters' in posts on Yahoo Entertainment and gossip sites are not confirmed by named sources within the Academy. This is a critical distinction: gossip columns and forum posts are not primary evidence of voter intent.

Understanding Promotional Campaigns and Industry Reception

During award seasons, actors and filmmakers often participate in extensive promotional tours that include interviews, premieres and media appearances. Industry professionals sometimes critique these tours for various reasons, including perceived authenticity or campaign strategies. In the case of Wicked: For Good, some online commentary has focused on moments such as joint media appearances by Grande and Erivo and playful or unconventional interactions, which critics labelled as too performance-like or overly intense. However, there is no official record confirming that any Academy voters cited these behaviours when casting ballots.

In contrast, several mainstream entertainment outlets reported Wicked: For Good's complete omission from the nominations and noted public reactions without suggesting any definitive motivation from the Academy. Industry professionals interviewed by reputable outlets emphasise that Oscar voters assess performances behind the screen and that personal promotional behaviour is not part of the official criteria.

The notion that Academy voters rejected Ariana Grande's Oscar prospects because they were 'creeped out' by her relationship with Cynthia Erivo remains an unsubstantiated rumour circulating online.