"Controversy Erupts: Cynthia Erivo portrays Jesus in a divisive move, starring alongside Adam Lambert"
Cynthia Erivo's portrayal of Jesus Christ in the 2025 Hollywood Bowl production of Jesus Christ Superstar has sparked intense debate, with the casting of the Black queer woman as the son of God causing both backlash and praise.
The production, directed by Sergio Trujillo and featuring music direction by Stephen Oremus, ran from August 1-3. Ticket prices ranged from $400 to $1,270.
Critics, particularly conservative Christians, have condemned the casting as "demonic" and "blasphemous," viewing it as a desecration and a political statement aligned with cultural Marxism. Public figures like Kevin Sorbo and Sean Davis have voiced their outrage, criticizing Erivo’s portrayal, including her bald appearance and styling, which they found inappropriate or offensive.
On the other hand, many have praised Erivo’s performance as powerful and transcendent, highlighting her theatrical skill and the production's embrace of a rock opera spirit that challenges conventional norms. The portrayal was seen by supporters as a modern, inclusive reimagining of Jesus that fits within the countercultural themes of the original 1971 musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.
Erivo herself identifies as queer and non-binary-affirming, which added layers to the public discourse about representation, spirituality, and artistic freedom. The production featured a diverse, star-studded cast, including Adam Lambert as Judas, emphasizing queer identities and challenging traditional biblical iconography.
However, Erivo's behavior off-screen has been criticized. Some have accused her of elitism and perpetuating a victim complex, citing incidents such as disparaging fellow auditioners and angrily reacting to fan edits.
In a previous role, Erivo played Mary Magdalene in an all-female version of Jesus Christ Superstar in 2020. John Legend took on the role for the NBC live-action remake of the musical in 2018, while Singer Morgan James took on the role in the 2020 production.
Erivo believes that her roles as Elphaba in Wicked and as Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar represent the struggles of a black woman who is not accepted by society. She sees her green skin in Wicked as symbolically representing the "ultimate other," being queer in a broader sense of not fitting societal expectations.
Views on Erivo's portrayal of Jesus were varied, with some describing her look as "creepy," "eerie," "frightening," and "unholy." Some netizens believe the casting choice aligns with a specific agenda, while others found Erivo's portrayal of the ultimate symbol of humility to be ill-fitting and deliberately aimed at generating outrage.
Despite the controversy, the production of Jesus Christ Superstar at the Hollywood Bowl was met with both criticism and acclaim, reflecting the ongoing debate about representation, artistic freedom, and the role of inclusivity in modern adaptations of classic works.
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Critics and public figures, such as Kevin Sorbo and Sean Davis, have denounced Cynthia Erivo's portrayal of Jesus Christ in the 2025 Hollywood Bowl production of Jesus Christ Superstar, claiming it to be blasphemous and a political statement aligned with cultural Marxism.
On the contrary, many have praised Erivo's performance, viewing it as a modern, inclusive reinterpretation of Jesus that reflects the countercultural themes of the original rock opera. The production, known for its diverse cast, has been celebrated as a challenge to traditional biblical iconography and a push for representation in pop-culture entertainment.
