Ariana Grande Acknowledges Criticism of Memes Targeting Cynthia Erivo

SINGAPORE — Ariana Grande’s recent activity on Instagram suggests she is aware of the negative and distasteful memes circulating about Cynthia Erivo, who defended Grande from an aggressive fan at a public event last month, according to social media observers.

The incident occurred at the premiere of “Wicked: For Good” in Singapore, where a fan broke through the crowd and grabbed Grande. Erivo intervened by pushing the fan away and urging him to “let go,” then comforted Grande, who appeared visibly shaken.

Following the event, numerous memes and videos mocking Erivo’s protective actions went viral online. Critics, including social media user @thefilmdiva, condemned the portrayal of Erivo in these memes, highlighting underlying issues of racism and misogyny. The critique pointed out that many of the mocking videos were created by men and often depicted Erivo in a masculinized manner, which some viewers found inappropriate given her known glamorous and feminine image.

Supporters of Erivo, including artist SZA, described the treatment as an example of “misogynoir,” a term referring to the intersection of racism and sexism directed at Black women. SZA expressed disbelief that such attitudes persist in 2025 and called for an end to the negative portrayals.

Fans have since noticed that Grande liked the video posted by @thefilmdiva, which called out the offensive memes. This action has been interpreted as Grande’s acknowledgment of the issue and her awareness of the hurtful content circulating online. Social media users expressed sympathy for both Grande and Erivo, emphasizing that celebrities are still people who experience the impact of such negative attention.

The incident and its aftermath have sparked broader conversations about the treatment of Black women in media and online spaces, particularly when they are depicted defending others. The discussion continues as fans and commentators call for more respectful and accurate representations.