Cynthia Erivo has the best response to backlash to her Jesus Christ casting: ‘It’s the gayest place on Earth’
Cynthia Erivo has responded to backlash to her Jesus Christ Superstar casting (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Cynthia Erivo has responded to backlash to her Jesus Christ Superstar casting (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Cynthia Erivo’s casting in Jesus Christ Superstar was met with more than its fair share of backlash from conservatives – but she has the best response.
When it was announced that Wicked‘s Cynthia Erivo would be taking up the mantle of Jesus Christ in a three-day run of the Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice rock musical Jesus Christ Superstar, the backlash was almost immediate.
Despite the fact that Erivo will be performing for just three nights (1-3 August this year) at the Hollywood Bowl, religious zealots were not thrilled that a queer Black woman would be centre stage; add in Queen’s Adam Lambert as Judas, and they practically ascended with rage.
Luckily, Erivo has had the perfect response to such complaints, and speaking to Billboard, she asked, “Why not?” of her casting.
“You can’t please everyone. It is legitimately a three-day performance at the Hollywood Bowl where I get to sing my face off. So hopefully they will come and realize, ‘Oh, it’s a musical, the gayest place on Earth.’”
Erivo herself featured on an all-female Jesus Christ Superstar album called She Is Risen just three years ago.
Previous stars of various versions of the musical include musician John Legend in the role of Jesus, gay singer-songwriter Declan Bennett also as Jesus, and gay comedian Julian Clary as King Herod – not in the same show.
Tickets for Cynthia Erivo and Adam Lambert in Jesus Christ Superstar are available now.
Erivo, who has a new album on the way, also recently appeared in a teaser-for-a-teaser for Wicked: For Good – the second part follow-up to 2024’s Wicked, in which she appeared as Elphaba, alongside Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey and more. But unless you’ve been living under a rock, you probably knew that.
Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.
