Ariana Grande has confirmed she has tested positive for COVID-19, bringing an unexpected halt to her promotional activities for the newly released Wicked: For Good film.
Instagram Revelation Ends Press Tour
The pop superstar and actress shared her diagnosis on Instagram this Thursday, posting a black and white photograph from her recent appearance on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon. She captioned the image with "Moments before COVID^", showing her character Glinda twirling a wand just before falling ill.
This health update arrives shortly after Grande showed solidarity with co-star Cynthia Erivo by skipping press interviews at the New York premiere. Erivo had lost her voice and was feeling unwell, though it remains unclear if their health issues are connected.
Missed Appointments and Tour Setbacks
According to industry publication Variety, Grande's positive test result has forced her to cancel several scheduled appearances. She has withdrawn from a taped segment with Erivo on The Kelly Clarkson Show and will miss multiple upcoming Q&A events tied to the film's promotion.
This isn't the first COVID-related disruption for the Wicked cast. During promotion of the first film in 2024, both Grande and Erivo contracted the virus days before filming what Grande described to The New York Times as "some of the most important work of the whole movie."
Challenging Global Promotion Circuit
The global press tour for Wicked: For Good has faced multiple obstacles beyond health concerns. Grande was unable to attend the initial premiere in Brazil, and during the Singapore event, the tour encountered a security breach when Australian stage invader Johnson Wen jumped a barricade and rushed toward Grande.
Erivo immediately intervened, pushing the man away from Grande while declaring "Get off her, don't touch her." Co-star Michelle Yeoh, who plays Madame Morrible, comforted Grande as security removed Wen from the premises.
Singapore District Judge Christopher Goh later described the act as "premeditated" and sentenced Wen to a nine-day prison term.
The first installment of the Wicked film series, released on November 22, 2024, achieved substantial box office success with $US474.6 million domestically and $US281.4 million internationally, totaling $US756 million globally. Early projections suggest the second chapter, which arrived in cinemas on November 21, may surpass its predecessor's opening performance.
