Ariana Grande has tested positive for COVID.
As the press and promo tour for “Wicked: For Good” comes to an end, Grande posted an Instagram story on Thursday, featuring an image of her appearance on “The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon” earlier this week — along with a message that reads, “moments before Covid.”
The news comes just days after Grande skipped doing interviews at the New York premiere of “For Good” in solidarity with Cynthia Erivo, who wasn’t feeling well and lost her voice.
As a result of her positive COVID diagnosis, Grande has had to pull out of a taped appearance with Erivo on “The Kelly Clarkson Show.” (Erivo will appear alone for the segment.) Grande will also miss the Q&A discussions about “Wicked: For Good” that were scheduled in the next coming days.
Both Erivo and Grande tested positive for COVID at separate times while filming the first “Wicked” movie. Erivo contracted the virus just days before filming “Defying Gravity,” while Grande was diagnosed shortly before shooting “Popular.”
The “Wicked: For Good” press tour has had a few hiccups since launching earlier this month. Grande was unable to make it to the first premiere in Brazil. During the Singapore festivities, a man rushed Grande after jumping the red carpet barricades. Erivo quickly sprung into action to push the man off her co-star.
Variety’s Rebecca Rubin reported on Wednesday that “Wicked: For Good” is expected to earn $150 million to $180 million from 4,000 North American theaters in its first weekend of release. It’s quite possible that the debut would rank as the year’s biggest opening over April’s “A Minecraft Movie” ($162 million) and May’s “Lilo & Stitch” remake ($146 million). “Wicked” set a record for stage-to-screen adaptations with $112.5 million over the same pre-Thanksgiving frame.
At the New York premiere, as Grande was rushing down the carpet, she told me, “We are so grateful. We are great. Cynthia’s great, too,” as Erivo flashed a thumbs up.
“Wicked: For Good” is in theaters tomorrow, Nov. 21.
