Ariana Grande Oscar snub rumors link Wicked sequel omission to Cynthia Erivo press tour dynamic

Online speculation has attempted to explain Ariana Grande’s absence from the 98th Academy Awards nominations by pointing to her public dynamic with Wicked: For Good co-star Cynthia Erivo, but there is no verified evidence to support those claims.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences released its official nominations list on Jan. 22, 2026, confirming that Wicked: For Good received no nominations for its cast or creative team. The omission drew attention partly because the franchise’s first installment enjoyed a strong awards run in 2025, earning 10 Oscar nominations and winning two awards.

Following the announcement, rumors began circulating on social media platforms suggesting that some Academy voters were allegedly “creeped out” by Grande and Erivo’s relationship or found their joint press appearances overly “intense.” These claims originated from anonymous posts on platforms such as Reddit and were later echoed by gossip and aggregation sites. However, no named Academy members, official statements, or verified interview transcripts support these assertions.

According to established Academy rules, Oscar voting is confidential, and individual ballots or reasoning are not made public. Academy spokespersons do not comment on why specific performances are nominated or overlooked. As a result, claims attributed to unnamed “voters” remain unverified and cannot be traced back to documented Academy sources.

Public reaction to the snub included support from fellow artists. Singer Charlie Puth defended Grande and Erivo on X (formerly Twitter), stating that their musical performances deserved recognition despite the outcome. Mainstream entertainment outlets similarly reported on the lack of nominations and the online response but did not cite any confirmed motivation behind the Academy’s decisions.

Industry analysts note that while promotional campaigns are sometimes criticized for tone or strategy, there is no evidence that such factors are part of the Academy’s formal voting criteria. Several entertainment journalists have emphasized that Oscar voters assess performances on screen, not off-screen relationships or press tour dynamics.

As it stands, the suggestion that Ariana Grande’s Oscar prospects were harmed by her association with Cynthia Erivo remains an unsubstantiated rumor circulating online, without confirmation from the Academy or any identifiable voters.