Cynthia Erivo, the Tony, Emmy, and Grammy-winning actress and singer, has been at the center of growing concerns regarding her recent weight loss, particularly following her appearance at a photo call for the Wicked movie premiere.
Fans and followers have raised alarms about her frail appearance, with some speculating she may be suffering from health issues like wasting syndrome or anorexia.
Cynthia Erivo’s Dramatic Transformation Raises Alarms
Erivo, who plays the iconic role of Elphaba in the much-anticipated Wicked movie adaptation, was photographed looking notably thinner, with protruding neck bones and sunken cheeks, prompting online comments questioning her health.
Some people went as far as to claim she appeared “anorexic,” while others, including those who support her, expressed that such comments can be harmful, particularly when they are based solely on appearances.
These discussions around Erivo’s weight echo a broader trend in Hollywood, where the physical appearances of celebrities, especially women, are often scrutinized to an unhealthy degree.
Co-star Ariana Grande, who also plays a lead role in Wicked, has faced similar comments on social media regarding her own appearance. Some users claimed both actresses appeared “extremely unwell.”
Read also: Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo in Wicked Spark Concerns Over Their Physical Transformations
Cynthia Erivo Speaks Out About Her Health
In a candid interview with the New York Times published shortly before the premiere of Wicked on Nov. 6, Erivo revealed that she and Grande had both contracted COVID-19 during filming, which forced a pause in production. The actress spoke about how the illness had affected her physically, suggesting that it contributed to her more slender appearance.
“There was one time when I got COVID, there was another time when she got COVID,” Erivo shared. “We’d worked ourselves to the bone,” she added, explaining that the pause allowed her to regain strength before tackling some of the most important scenes in the film, including her performance of the iconic “Defying Gravity.”
The actress mentioned how, despite the exhaustion, she remained grateful for the opportunity to rest and recover, especially before performing in such a physically demanding role.
Both Grande and Erivo have used their platforms to advocate for kindness and understanding, urging fans to stop making assumptions about people’s health based on their appearance.
Ariana Grande, in particular, spoke out on TikTok in April 2023, reminding her followers that there are many ways to look “healthy and beautiful” and that she was previously at her “lowest point” when her body appeared its “healthiest” to the public.
She emphasized that we can never fully know what someone is going through, and urged people to refrain from commenting on others’ bodies.
@pagesix #ArianaGrande ♬ original sound – Pagesix | Celebrity Gossip
The Dangers of Body Comments
Experts and activists have long warned against commenting on someone’s body, as it reinforces harmful ideals that one’s worth is determined by appearance. Dr. Elizabeth Wassenaar, a regional medical director at the Eating Recovery Center, noted that even well-intentioned remarks about weight can perpetuate damaging notions that a person’s value is tied to their physical appearance.
“It just reinforces that superficial, body-focused idea that we know is painful and harmful for every single one of us,” Wassenaar explained.
This issue isn’t new. In 2021, Adele opened up about the “brutal” conversations surrounding her weight loss and the unrealistic expectations that come with it.
With all that said, we need to be more mindful of the impact our words can have. While it’s natural to express concern for loved ones or public figures, making assumptions about someone’s health based on their appearance is not only harmful, but it also perpetuates a culture of body-shaming.
Saying that people are too skinny, is BODY SHAMING. Saying that people have no ass, is BODY SHAMING. Saying that people are too big, is BODY SHAMING. Saying something negative about someone’s body is fucking BODY SHAMING. Learn to stfu when the situation doesn’t concern you.
— jay 🍃 (@420JAYK) August 12, 2018
Ultimately, we should remember that health and beauty come in many different forms, and the conversation around bodies needs to shift towards acceptance and support, rather than judgment and scrutiny, so we definitely need to approach others with kindness and respect, regardless of how they may look or how famous they are.
