Cue The Biblical Meltdowns, Cynthia Erivo Announces Her Next Role—Jesus
Cynthia Erivo will star in ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ at the Hollywood Bowl this summer.
Cynthia Erivo is stepping into divine sandals this summer, taking on the titular role in Jesus Christ Superstar at the Hollywood Bowl. While many are celebrating the casting of the Tony, Emmy, and Grammy-winning performer, some corners of the internet are in full-blown meltdown mode.
Erivo, fresh off her massive success in Wicked, shared the announcement with a playful Instagram Story, writing, “Just a little busy this summer. Can’t wait” along with a winky-face emoji. But the announcement’s comment section quickly turned into an all-too-predictable battlefield, as some self-appointed moral gatekeepers declared the move “absolute blasphemy.”
One particularly dramatic critic warned, “May God be merciful to those who taunt him, and disobey his word.” Another lamented, “Absolute blasphemy. But I expect nothing less from Hollywood. And those people mocking God & Christians will be on their knees confessing Jesus is Lord when the time comes, but it will be too late. Jesus is KING.”
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This isn’t the first time Jesus Christ Superstar has ruffled feathers. The Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice rock musical was controversial from the start, with its radical depiction of Jesus as a rebellious leader taking on an oppressive system. As one commenter eloquently put it:
“LET’S TALK ABOUT IT! To everyone clutching their pearls over Cynthia Erivo portraying Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar—let’s break this ALL the way down. First of all, do y’all even KNOW what this play is about? Because it ain’t just a Sunday School story, baby. It was a whole revolutionary statement! When it debuted in 1971, it was controversial for showing Jesus as a radical leader fighting oppression—while folks were literally protesting Vietnam, injustice, and government corruption. It’s about power, rebellion, and a people’s movement, NOT just who’s ‘worthy’ to play the role.
“Now, Cynthia Erivo? A multiple award-winning, powerhouse actress and singer who can out-sing and out-act half of Hollywood? And y’all mad? WHY? Because she’s a Black woman? Oh no, we’re not doing that today. Y’all let white actors play Jesus for centuries (blue eyes, blonde hair—historically inaccurate, but go off). Jesus was described in the Bible as having hair like wool and feet like bronze—SOUNDS PRETTY BLACK TO ME.
“So let’s be real. If this outrage isn’t about race and gender, then what is it really about? Y’all don’t even know the play, don’t know the message, and definitely don’t have the range to come for Cynthia Erivo. She IS the moment. She IS the revolution. And she WILL deliver.”
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While religious purists fume, others have pointed out the sheer hypocrisy in the backlash. One commenter noted, “There are lots of angry white women in this comment section. Not angry at the blob you voted for that [is] taking away women’s rights, but you draw the line at a fictional musical that was written in 1971 and a woman is playing a part, got it!”
Erivo is no stranger to Jesus Christ Superstar. In 2021, she lent her powerhouse vocals to She Is Risen, an all-female reimagining of the musical, proving she’s more than capable of taking on the role. The outrage seems oddly selective.
This X user clearly gets it—nobody on Earth could belt the song “Gethsemane” like her:
For audience members who aren’t stuck in the first century, the opportunity to see Erivo shine on stage will be nothing short of heavenly. The production only runs for three nights, from August 1-3, so snatch those tickets while you can.
