Oscar voters are revealing surprising reasons behind Ariana Grande’s snub for a Best Supporting Actress nomination for her performance in Wicked: For Good, despite earlier nominations at the golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards. The omission of Grande’s name from the Academy Awards list sparked disappointment among fans, known as ‘Arianators,’ but now Academy members are shedding light on their decision-making process in anonymous conversations with outlets like NewsNation.
Several voters cited issues with the film itself, with one stating, “The movie wasn’t that great. The two have amazing on-screen chemistry but spent moast of the movie apart.” Others took issue with the extensive promotional campaign surrounding the film. One voter expressed discomfort with the promotional efforts, stating, “I was also just entirely turned off by their promotional performances.They creeped a lot of people out and in their rush to feel authentic, came off as cosplaying.” The duo’s unconventional promotional “shenanigans,” including an “aura reading” performed at the Wicked premiere in Paris, also factored into the decision, with one voter saying, “no one wanted to go through that again.”
beyond the film and promotion,concerns about Grande’s well-being and the dynamic with co-star Cynthia Erivo also surfaced. A voter referenced an incident where Grande was reportedly overwhelmed at the film’s Singapore premiere, with Erivo stepping in to assist, and commented, “Think of it this way: We were protecting Ariana from her anxiety – and Cynthia from having to intervene. Again.” these remarks ignited a backlash online, with many users on X (formerly Twitter) condemning the reasons cited by the voters, labeling the snub a “smear campaign” against both actresses and questioning the anonymity of the voters.
Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo completed their run as Glinda and Elphaba, respectively, with Wicked: For Good, which was released in November 2024. Both actresses received multiple nominations for the first installment of the two-part franchise, including a Best Actress nod for Erivo and a Best supporting Actress nomination for Grande at the golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards. Wicked: Part Two is scheduled for release in November 2025.
