Who Was Cynthia Erivo Shading In Her Comments About Her Wicked Audition?

Today, we try to determine who Cynthia Erivo was shading in her recent comments about her Wicked audition?

In Pop Culture Questions Answered, I answer whatever questions you folks might have about movies, TV, music or whatever (feel free to e-mail questions to me at brian@poprefs.com).

Cynthia Erivo made news recently when she and her Wicked co-star, Ariana Grande, were interviewed for the New York Times, and Erivo explained her reaction to the news that Grande, who she had not auditioned with to that point, had gotten the role of her co-lead in the film, “Thank goodness. Because it was not the two ladies that I was auditioning with.”

Naturally, the internet has been a bit put off at Erivo throwing shade at the actors who DIDN’T get the role, so now the question becomes, who, exactly, was she throwing shade AT?

Amanda Seyfried talked about auditioning for Glinda back in 2022 to Backstage:

I have dreams that I’m still auditioning for “Wicked.” Last summer while I was playing Elizabeth [on “The Dropout”], on the weekends I was auditioning in person to play Glinda in the movie version of “Wicked”—because I wanted it that much that I was like, “You know what? Yeah, I have to play the last scene of ‘The Dropout’ on Tuesday. I’ll give my Sunday to you.” I literally bent over backwards while playing the hardest role of my life. But I think it also taught me how far I’ve come as a singer, which I really wanted to prove. Because ever since “Les Miz,” I was like, I need to be better. I need to do better. So whatever comes next in terms of musicals, I’m finally prepared.

Dove Cameron told The Wrap in 2023 that she auditioned for the role:

“I definitely went out for it. I know that for everybody who did go out for it, it was a very long process. It was one of the longer processes I’ve been a part of.”

Renee Rapp revealed that she tried out for the role on Andy Cohen’s Watch What Happens Live, noting, “Ariana’s gonna be… can I cuss? She’s going to be f–king amazing. I’m so excited.” However, Erivo and Renee Rapp interviewed each other recently for Rolling Stone, and they sure seemed to be friendly, so I doubt Erivo was shading Rapp.

Taylor Louderman posted in an Instagram story when Ariana Grande was cast, “yyyy did I even audition or think I had a chance?!,” adding “This business…you can’t care too much about any role you’re auditioning for (or you could get hurt & won’t come back) but you have to care enough to give it your all.”

Okay, so I guess it has to be Seyfried, Cameron or Louderman, right? As I would think Erivo wouldn’t be talking trash about Rapp. Seyfried was the biggest name going in, so you would THINK she would get to the point of auditioning WITH Erivo, but who knows for sure. If I HAD to guess, I think I’d go Seyfried and Cameron (Seyfried because she was the biggest name, and Cameron because she made it sound like she auditioned for a long time, which would lend you to think she got to the point of auditioning WITH Erivo). So that’s my best guess.

Thanks to reader Frank W. for asking me this one!

If anyone else has a pop culture question, drop me a line at brian@poprefs.com!