Yahoo Lifestyle Cynthia Erivo Denies Speaking With Academy About Performing ‘Wicked’ Songs at the Oscars: ‘I Don’t Know Why We Would Be Doing That’
Cynthia Erivo is already going to the Oscars as a best actress nominee for “Wicked,” but some have expected the star to have a bigger spotlight during the ceremony. As reported by Puck, the Academy is looking to open the telecast with a medley of “Wicked” songs performed by Erivo and her co-star Ariana Grande.
“Why does everyone keep saying that? I don’t know where this has come from,” Erivo told Variety’s Marc Malkin on the red carpet of the Critics’ Choice Awards Friday evening when asked about the report. “This feels like wishful thinking to me, personally. Why on Earth would we be singing?”
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Malkin then asked directly if she’s been in conversation with the Academy about a performance. “No!” Erivo responded, then stared down the barrel of the camera. “People are asking me if we’re going to be singing at the Oscars. I don’t know why we would be doing that, since our song is not nominated. That doesn’t happen. I don’t know what to tell you.”
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The logic of Erivo’s denial isn’t exactly airtight, as the Academy had previously shared that none of the nominees for best original song are going to be performed this year, breaking from a tradition for the ceremony. Instead, the show is spotlighting “personal reflections” from the songwriters.
Along with her Oscar nod, Erivo is nominated in the best actress category at Friday evening’s Critics’ Choice Awards. “Wicked” is tied with “Conclave” as the most-nominated feature of the field, with 11 nods apiece. See the full list of winners here.
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