Singer and actress Ariana Grande has announced she has tested positive for COVID-19, throwing a spanner in the works during the final leg of her promotional tour for the new film Wicked: For Good.
A Positive Test and Cancelled Appearances
The 32-year-old pop star shared the news with her followers via Instagram Stories on Thursday. She posted a still from her recent appearance on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon alongside the caption: 'moments before Covid.' This diagnosis comes just days after she skipped press interviews at the New York premiere of For Good in a show of solidarity with her co-star, Cynthia Erivo, who was unwell and had lost her voice at the time.
As a direct result of the positive test, Grande has been forced to pull out of a pre-taped joint appearance with Erivo on The Kelly Clarkson Show. Erivo proceeded with the segment solo. The diagnosis also means the pop star will miss several upcoming Q&A discussions related to the film in the coming days.
A Familiar Setback for the Wicked Stars
This is not the first time COVID-19 has disrupted the Wicked experience for the pair. Both stars previously tested positive at different points during the filming of the first movie.
Cynthia Erivo fell ill just days before shooting the show-stopping number Defying Gravity, while Grande received her diagnosis shortly before filming her big musical moment for Popular.
A Challenging Press Tour
The press tour for the film has been anything but smooth sailing. Grande was notably absent from the film's initial premiere in Brazil. Furthermore, during the Singapore celebrations, the event was marred by a security scare when a man jumped the red carpet barricades and rushed toward the star.
In a swift and protective move, Cynthia Erivo intervened, stepping in to push the individual away from her co-star. This latest COVID diagnosis adds another layer of difficulty to what has been a challenging promotional period for the cast.
