After weeks of nonstop Wicked: For Good press events, Ariana Grande confirmed she had fallen ill, revealing a positive test result that unexpectedly derailed the final stretch of the tour.
Concerns about Ariana Grande’s dramatic physical transformation had already sparked headlines leading up to the rollout of Wicked: For Good, the follow-up to the highly-anticipated first Wicked film.
The musical fantasy – that reunites Grande, 32, and Cynthia Erivo, 38, in their roles as the beloved witches from Oz – debuted internationally in November, with the stars attending premieres in London, Singapore, and New York.
Disruptions
The press tour, however, was repeatedly disrupted.
Earlier in the month, Grande missed the Brazil premiere due to aircraft safety issues, according to People.
Just days later, she was physically grabbed by a man on the red carpet at the Singapore premiere on Nov.13. The incident, captured on video, showed Erivo stepping in without hesitation to shield her co-star, placing herself between Grande and the man and shouting until security intervened. The New York Times reported that the man, 26-year-old Johnson Wen, was sentenced to nine days in jail.
‘Specimen in a petri-dish’
Even before the tour began, Grande’s noticeable physical transformation had already sparked headlines. Concerns about her thinner frame fueled speculation about her health, drawing widespread attention as the rollout for Wicked: For Good gained momentum.
Initially staying silent, she eventually addressed the topic directly.
“I’ve heard it all. I’ve heard every version of it – what’s wrong with me, and then you fix it, and then it’s wrong for different reasons,” she said in a December 2024 interview, per the Independent. “It’s hard to protect yourself from that noise.
“I’ve been doing this in front of the public and been a specimen in a petri-dish since I was 16 or 17. It’s hard to protect yourself from that noise, and I think it’s something that is uncomfortable no matter what scale you’re experiencing it on.”
She added, “I’m really lucky to have the support system that I have, and to know and trust that I’m beautiful.”
Scaled back appearances
But since the Grammy-winning singer and her co-star started skipping Wicked: For Good events, the internet went wild with theories.
“Unfortunately, Cynthia is not feeling well and has lost her voice, therefore she and Ariana will not be doing interviews this evening,” Universal Pictures said in a statement, without providing details on Grande’s mystery illness, according to People.
The pair did appear briefly on the red carpet and for a livestream segment, during which Grande explained, “I’m not letting [Erivo] speak,” as her co-star struggled to talk.
‘Moments before Covid’
On Nov. 18, Grande had a guest spot on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and just two days later, on Nov. 20, she shared on her Instagram Stories that she had tested positive for COVID-19, posting a screenshot from the Fallon taping with the caption, “moments before Covid.”
Grande’s diagnosis brought her participation in the Wicked press tour to an abrupt stop, forcing her to cancel a scheduled appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show and withdraw from upcoming events tied to the film.
In her absence, Erivo – who seems to be healthier now – will continue to represent the cast at scheduled engagements.
Grande’s big brother shares update
Following her latest diagnosis, Grande has remained off camera, with her brother Frankie Grande offering the first public update on her condition.
“She’s doing well,” Frankie, 42, told E! News. “As her brother, I send her all the love and healing vibes in the world. She’s working so much.”
“We’ve all had COVID at this point. We know that she’s going to be fine,” the Broadway star added.
‘Wicked’ and Covid
This isn’t the first time Grande and Enviro have battled COVID during Wicked-related projects. While promoting the original blockbuster in 2024, both stars revealed they had contracted the virus just days before filming major scenes.
At the time, Grande told The New York Times that the timing had been particularly challenging given they both became sick before shooting “some of the most important works of the whole movie.”
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