Cynthia Erivo defends her casting as Jesus in 'the gayest place on Earth'
Cynthia Erivo has shrugged off criticism after she was announced to be playing Jesus.
The 38-year-old British actress and singer is best known for playing Harriet Taubman in the movie Harriet, Aretha Franklin in the series Genius: Aretha and Elphaba in Wicked.
She has also starred in a string of theatre productions, including Sister Act, The Color Purple, and Gutenberg! The Musical!.
Earlier this year she was announced as the star on the Hollywood Bowl's upcoming staging of Jesus Christ Superstar.
In February the 38-year-old was revealed to be playing Jesus Christ in the show, which will have three performances in August.
'Jesus Christ Superstar at the Hollywood Bowl! Emmy, Grammy, and Tony winner, and three-time Oscar nominee Cynthia Erivo is cast as Jesus,' the venue revealed on social media.
Cynthia then shared: 'Just a little busy this summer, can't wait.'
However, the casting divided people, with some even going so far as to label it 'blasphemous'.
A few months on Cynthia has defended her casting in Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's musical.
Asked by Billboard about the backlash to a Black queer woman taking on the role, she declared: 'Why not?'
'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 realise, 'Oh, it's a musical, the gayest place on Earth'.'
When her casting was initially announced Cynthia was also met with support from fans who pointed out the musical had always featured a racially diverse cast, and they enjoyed watching people have a 'meltdown' over her casting.
Cynthia previously starred as Mary Magdalene in an all-female version of the musical, which made its Broadway debut in 1971, in 2020.
The upcoming production will see Adam Lambert play Judas, with Tony Award winner Sergio Trujillo the director and choreographer.
Rice previously said he was looking forward to see this reimagining of his show.
'I think a piece that is established, there's no reason it can't be done in lots of forms,' he told LBC.
'I think Cynthia, who is one of the best singers on the planet, will do a great version.'
A previous staging in 2018 – NBC's Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert – saw John Legend play Jesus. More Trending
Since making her debut on the West End in 2011, Cynthia has gone on to win an Emmy, a Grammy, and a Tony Award, now being just one win away from securing the title of EGOT with an Oscar win.
Later this month Cynthia will host the Tony Awards, as well as release an album. Later this year she will also star in Wicked's sequel – Wicked For Good.
Her next theatre show after Jesus Christ Superstar will be Frankenstein on the West End next year, in which she will play a jaw-dropping 23 roles.
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