Did Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo's 'Semi-Binary' Relationship Keep 'Wicked: For Good' From Oscar Noms? Voters Weigh In

A tense mix of press tour moments, viral interactions and voter discomfort has been cited as a factor behind the absence of Oscar nominations for Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo for Wicked: For Good.

Much discussion followed the announcement that neither Ariana Grande nor Cynthia Erivo received acting nominations for the 2026 Academy Awards for Wicked: For Good. An anonymous Oscar voter told NewsNation that their decision was influenced by how the pair came across during the film's promotional run. The voter claimed the actresses 'creeped a lot of people out', shifting attention away from the performances themselves.

According to the outlet, voters said they were unsettled by what was described as Erivo's 'constant' guardianship of Grande. One voter said the dynamic felt 'intense and bizarre' and suggested it made others uncomfortable. The same source added that the actresses appeared to be 'trying to go viral with their shenanigans'.

Grande, 32, played Glinda in the follow-up to 2024's Wicked, while Erivo, 39, portrayed Elphaba. One anonymous voter acknowledged that the pair had strong on-screen chemistry. However, the voter said they spent much of the film apart, which weakened the impact of their performances together.

Press Tour Behaviour Under Scrutiny

The criticism focused heavily on the promotional tour rather than the film itself. One voter told NewsNation that they were 'completely turned off' by the promotional appearances, which they said overshadowed the project. The voter added that, in their view, the actresses 'came off as cosplaying' while attempting to appear authentic.

Another anonymous voter quoted by the outlet said the film 'wasn't that good' and claimed Grande and Erivo 'sucked the air out of any red carpet they were on'. That voter added that no one wanted to experience a repeat of those moments. These remarks were presented as explanations for why support for nominations did not materialise.

Several interactions between Grande and Erivo gained traction online during the press run. At the Paris premiere, they were asked by an Elle journalist to describe each other's 'auras'. Grande described Erivo's as 'yellow' like 'sunshine', while Erivo described Grande's as 'ciel blue' and 'sunset-orange'.

During an interview with Out Magazine journalist Tracy E. Gilchrist, Erivo became emotional when discussing reactions to Defying Gravity. As Erivo spoke, Grande clasped her index finger in a visible show of support. The moment was widely shared online, with some users mocking it and one person posting, 'What was this?' alongside a screenshot.

Security Incident In Singapore

In November, Erivo intervened when a man rushed towards Grande at the Singapore premiere. The individual was later identified as Johnson Wen, known online as @PyjamaMann. Voters referenced this incident when describing what they saw as Erivo's protective behaviour.

Industry Response And Online Responses

The Daily Mail reported that representatives for The Academy had been contacted for comment. At the time of reporting, no response had been provided. Despite the Oscar outcome, Grande did receive a nomination at the 2026 Golden Globes but did not win.

The voter comments prompted strong reactions online, with many defending both actresses. Some users argued that voting should be based solely on acting and the film itself. 'And here i thought these voters vote based on acting skills and quality of the project'. Others said the narrative around Erivo's behaviour ignored the context of Grande being physically approached at public events.